Utah’s First Women in Cybersecurity Professional Program

WiCyS is a premier organization with an international reach dedicated to bringing together women in cybersecurity from academia, research, and industry to share knowledge, experience, networking and mentoring. Established in 2012 by Dr. Ambareen Siraj of Tennessee Tech University through a National Science Foundation grant, WiCyS is a nonprofit organization offering many membership, sponsorship and collaboration benefits. 

"I am honored to serve in the WiCyS Utah Affiliate with leaders who are not only great advocates, but role models, and who are passionate about increasing the number of women in the cybersecurity field," said Dr. Shalini Kesar, affiliate president and co-founding member and associate professor of information systems at SUU. "

Opportunities for Girls to Explore Computing and Technology

Dr. Shalini Kesar, associate professor of information systems at Southern Utah University, has been the driving force behind the Southern Utah Aspirations chapter since 2013.

“Outreach projects like these not only increase awareness but also show the female students the education and career opportunities in computing,” said Dr. Kesar.

Southern Utah Aspirations includes girls from across 20 counties in Utah and east Nevada. The program has grown to include Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington, Wayne, Grand, Carbon, Emery, San Pete, and Juab counties in Utah, and Lincoln, White Pine, Elko, Lander, & Eureka counties in Nevada.

Southern Utah Aspirations Encourages Girls to Pursue Computing and Technology

Since 2013, Southern Utah Aspirations, a National Center For Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) chapter, have been conducting outreach projects to honor high school girls from rural and remote counties who are actively pursuing and interested in computing and technology.

Creating a Pipeline for Young Women in STEM and Computing in Southern Utah

Southern Utah University Article

"According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 57 percent of college undergraduates are women, yet only 18 percent progress into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields as a career.  Southern Utah University is showing initiative on this front and is working to meet this national need for females employed in computing and technology workplaces... "

In The News: Southern Utah Girls in Technology, KSL 5

YouTube Video

"The Southern Utah Girls in Technology Event was on May 7th at Southern Utah University. Approximately, 160 high school girls from six southern Utah counties participated in the event. Throughout the day they were involved with hands-on workshops which included: Raspberry Pi with a Smart Mirror, Gaming Platforms, Cybersecurity Practices, OZBots -Play with Robots, Create Your World With Micro:Bytes, and Become a Digital Citizen. Southern Utah Girls in Technology (SUGIT) is a free technology program with fun hands-on activities, creative workshops, & opportunities to network with local industries, as well as other aspiring high school girls. "

Program Teaches Southern Utah Girls They Have a Place in Tech Industry

St. George Daily Spectrum online

2018-05-07

SheTech Helps High School Girls Find Their Place in Tech

St. George Daily Spectrum online

2017-05-19

“We want to give them this experience to show them STEM isn’t boring and doesn’t have to be just for boys,” Kesar said. “STEM used to be very scientific and programming-oriented, but now it’s changing and is so much more than just sitting at a computer.”

Where Are the Women in Computer Science? 3 Local Professionals Weigh In

KSL online

2016-11-21

Dr. Shalini Kesar is an Associate Professor at Southern Utah University and leads Southern Utah Aspirations in Computing (SUAIC), a chapter of NCWIT. She said, “I think globally there is a gap…the pipeline is a factor.” Dr. Kesar works both in K-12 and higher education to increase the number of women in that pipeline...

Women Tech Council Honors Utah Women in Technology

​KSL online

2016-09-27

On Thursday at the Grand America hotel, Dr. Shalini Kesar related her story while she was in Salt Lake City for the Women Tech Council Awards.She grew up in India, but came to Cedar City from London nine years ago.“In my college, there were only four girls out of 60 studying technology," she said. Despite the lack of women in her class, Kesar said it was natural for her to go into science. “I had a strong family support and good teachers that made me realize what I could do,” she said...

Girl Power: STEM Gender Diversity Increases in Southern Utah

Southern Utah University News online

2016-04-11

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 57 percent of college undergraduates are women, yet only 18 percent progress into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as a career. Despite this national need for a female presence in computing and technology workplaces, southern Utah is showing initiative on this front.

Video: Did You Know: Women in Computing?

​Created by Damon Day and cast by MAD team!. The Southern Utah Aspirations in Computing  (SUAIC) Program.The program aims to enhance awareness about education & career opportunities existing  for women in computing...this video was created for SUAiC event that targets High school young women in 10 counties of southern Utah.....