“When I needed help applying to graduate school, it was my professors and Honors Program Chair Kathryn MacDonald who I turned to. They genuinely cared.”
Yulini Persaud always knew she wanted to study Information Technology, but it wasn’t until her internship as a Junior Security Analyst at the New York Hall of Science that cemented her desire to work in cybersecurity. Yulini explained that the problems were really challenging and that cybersecurity analysts are at the forefront of research. She further emphasized her love for getting in front of technology and having all the latest software security tools at her disposal.
Yulini says that being in the Honors Program at Monroe was one of the most important aspects of her experience there. The program allowed her the opportunity to participate in several regional and national collegiate honors conferences and present research she had done on various aspects of technology. The conferences provided both great experience and great networking opportunities.
Her biggest takeaway from Monroe is their massive support system that even spanned post graduation. Her professors and Honors Program Chair Kathryn MacDonald helped her apply to graduate schools and even helped with her personal statement and letters.
Yulini graduated from Monroe with a Bachelor's in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity. After Monroe, she earned a Master’s in Information Security Policy and Management in 2020 at Pittsburgh’s prestigious Carnegie Mellon University. She also worked as an Adjunct Professor at Monroe from 2020 to 2022. She taught both undergraduate and graduate courses such as IT Project Management, Computer Security and Privacy, Network and Computer Forensics, and Managing Projects, Resources, and Risks.
Yulini is currently working for the New York Times as a Senior Information Security Analyst, focusing on Threat Management. In this role, she monitors security tools, assists the security education team, and hosts security training for members of newsroom staff.
