WiCyS @ OSU Blog

Latest updates, events, and cybersecurity insights from our community

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Jordan Hankin introducing herself

Guest Speaker: Jordan Hankin

2026-1-13

We had an incredible club meeting this week where we had the opportunity to host Jordan Hankin from ORTSOC, who shared her journey and insights into working in a Security Operations Center (SOC). During the meeting, Jordan explained what a SOC is and how it plays a critical role in monitoring, detecting, and responding to cyber threats in real time. She also walked us through her career path, discussing how she got started in cybersecurity, the challenges she faced, and the experiences that helped her grow into her current role. As the Security Engineer/Architect at ORTSOC—a unique security operations center that trains students in real-world security operations through hands-on experience—Jordan provided valuable insight into what it takes to work in a SOC. One of her biggest takeaways for students aspiring to be in ORTSOC was to not be afraid to fail, as failure is a part of the learning process. She emphasized that growth often comes from trying, making mistakes, and trying again. Huge thank you to Jordan Hankin for taking the time to share her experiences with us. We really appreciate learning from professionals who are doing the work we hope to do one day!

President Jackie Presenting Internship Insights

Internship Insights

2025-10-15

This week our club hosted a very informative meeting about Internships. We covered everything from how to find internships, best times to apply, polishing your resume, and what the day to day of an internship looks like. Held right on campus this meeting focused on real experiences, practical advice, and encouragement straight from students who have had internships. Rather than hearing from industry professionals, who haven’t recently gone through the internship process, we heard directly from students. Each speaker shared their unique experiences - from how they found the opportunity, what the application and interview process looked like, and what they learned along the way. One of the biggest takeaways? You don’t have to be an expert to land an internship - initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn can take you far. Speakers emphasized that applying early and tailoring your resume, even if you don’t feel 100% qualified, is key. Another strong theme was soft skills. All the speakers mentioned soft skills and how they are just as equally important as the technical skills. Companies are looking for people who can communicate, work well on a team, be professional, and have a strong work ethic. So even if your resume might be lacking job experience you can still land the job by showing off your soft skills. As we head into the recruiting season keep these tips in mind, and we can’t wait to hear about what internships you got!

WiCyS Ground Kontrol 2025 Event

Ground Kontrol Arcade - WiCyS Oregon Affiliate

2025-06-04

This week our club had the opportunity to attend the Women in Cybersecurity event in Portland. The gathering brought together cybersecurity professionals, students, and sponsors from across the region for an evening of connection, learning, and inspiration. Hosted at Ground Kontrol, Portland’s iconic arcade and bar, the event struck the perfect balance between professional engagement and laid-back fun. Surrounded by neon lights, vintage games, and a vibrant community, we were reminded that professional growth doesn’t always have to take place in traditional spaces. Sometimes the best conversations happen over a round of pinball. The event featured a diverse group of people from all sectors of the cybersecurity field all with a different path of how they got into cybersecurity. Listening to professionals share their experiences offered valuable insight into career development. One main takeaway was that soft skills are just as important as technical skills, so as you're working towards your degree don’t forget to go out and talk to people face to face and build your network. Another key theme was the value of diversity — in thought, background, and experience. Nearly everyone at the event followed a different route into cybersecurity, reinforcing the idea that there is no single path to success in cybersecurity. We’re excited to take what we learned back to OSU and keep growing as a club, students, leaders, and future cybersecurity professionals.

WiCyS @ OSU Student Chapter Logo

First Post!

2024-12-10

Welcome to the club! More blog posts will be coming in the near future.