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Skip to main content College of Engineering  ›  Information Networking Institute  ›  News  ›  2025  ›  INI Students Grow Their Networks and Skills at Cybersecurity Conferences April 08, 2025 INI Students Grow Their Networks and Skills at Cybersecurity Conferences By Evan Lybrand Media Inquiries This spring, nine Information Networking Institute (INI) students made their way to two cybersecurity conferences in Dallas, Texas; the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) conference and the Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC) conference. The INI has been a regular sponsor of  WiCyS, the premier conference dedicated to advancing women in cybersecurity and MiC, an executive leadership conference for minority, women, and nonbinary professionals in cybersecurity, and provides scholarships for students to attend.  Cybersecurity professionals gathered at the 2025 WiCyS conference. WiCyS has been bringing together leaders in government, academia and industry for over a decade and this year it continued that trend with Keynote speaker Ashley Fisher. Fisher is the director of cyber operations for Falcon Complete at Crowdstrike, the cybersecurity company. From April 2 to 5, attendees networked and participated in workshops on subjects ranging from utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the job hunt to public speaking. This year, eight INI student attended the conference to learn valuable insights and grow their networks.  First-time attendee Akanksha Dhanwal, a student in the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence  Engineering - Information Security (MSAIE-IS) program, was thrilled to attend WiCyS 2025. “I was looking forward to connecting with the incredible and diverse community of WiCyS professionals who are not only driving progress in the field but also empowering others along the way,” said Dhanwal. “In addition to building these meaningful connections, I was especially excited to attend workshops that explore the intersection of AI and security—and of course, to dive into the Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions!”  M.S. in Information Security (MSIS) student and INI ambassador Gabrielle Calderon was excited to meet other professionals. “I was looking forward to attending my first conference, not just to represent the INI but to develop relationships with accomplished women in cybersecurity,” said Calderon. “WiCyS is a perfect blend for both developing technical skills and getting to know other attendees. The main draw for me is meeting as many people as possible. I'm excited to be in the same space as women who have taken different paths towards the same professional goals, and who can advise on how to make the most of my career.”  Yashashvi Thukar, a M.S. in Information Technology - Information Security (MSIT-IS) student, presented a poster on the Practicum project she particpated in. "I had the chance to present my practicum project on building a Generative AI Assistant for NIST Cybersecurity Control Responses," said Thukar. "I never thought a poster session could lead to so many meaningful conversations. There’s something incredibly energizing about being in a space filled with brilliant women who are not only leading in cybersecurity but also building a more inclusive future for the field." INI alumni were also in attendance, including Dhvani Kapadia, a recent graduate of the MSIT-IS program, as well as MSIS alumni Dianelys Soto-Cruz and Victoria Zheng. To celebrate the gathering the INI hosted a dinner with local alumni, pictured below. Building a strong community through face-to-face connection is a valuable part of what makes the INI the powerful supportive network that it is.  Earlier in the spring, the INI also sponsored MSIT-IS student Adit Verma to attend the 2025 MiC conference. “I had an incredible time at the MiC Conference, where I had the opportunity to learn from industry experts, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and connect with so many inspiring professionals in the field,” said Verma. “From insightful panels on emerging threats to meaningful conversations about diversity in cybersecurity, this experience has been truly eye-opening.”  Explore Our Programs MS in Information Security MS in Artificial Intelligence Engineering - Information Security MS in Information Technology - Information Security Directory/Contact Faculty & Staff Resources News Events Student Resources CA Education Regulations REQUEST INFORMATION VISIT US HOW TO APPLY FEEBACK ▴ Opt-Out Request Honored Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Data When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. 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