UNLV Students Strengthen Campus Cybersecurity Through Hands-On IT Work

Students aren’t just learning from cybersecurity professionals at UNLV, they are becoming them.

Several graduate students joined the university's Information Security Office a few years ago to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Today, student workers are going above and beyond to help ensure their campus community stays safe online.

New Cybersecurity Protocols for a Safer Campus 

With thousands of students, faculty, and staff members digitally connected on campus, some incidents are bound to happen. That’s where the cybersecurity team comes in.

Student analyst Terry Robinson recently led a handful of projects seeking to improve how the university identifies cybersecurity risks and investigates incidents. In his work to enhance the university's protocol for violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Robinson helps ensure campus devices are used safely and responsibly.

“This experience has shown me that cybersecurity is not only about identifying issues, but also
about building reliable processes that support consistent decision-making,” Robinson said. “Through this work, I’ve been able to build stronger judgment in situations that require attention to detail, discretion, and accountability.”

According to Robinson, a major part of his role is ensuring that audiences without technical backgrounds can clearly understand guidelines for safe and secure technology use on campus. His proposal for an upgraded vulnerability disclosure policy strives to lay out clear security expectations for the entire campus to easily understand.

“Policy writing is not just about rules, but also about usability, clarity, and organizational
credibility, “ Robinson says. “Developing that kind of message has been valuable as cybersecurity professionals must be able to present information clearly and reduce ambiguity.”

Cybersecurity Impacts Beyond the Office 

Efforts made by student workers are felt campuswide, as many of them take their technology expertise off the clock.

Haru Yoo-Cornwell, lab monitor and undergraduate information systems student, helps students get access to technology they need while also promoting cybersecurity best practices. As a member of UNLV's Women in Cybersecurity Student Chapter (WiCyS), she works with students in and out of the lab to make technology use safer and more accessible.

“Cybersecurity can be a little daunting at first,” Yoo-Cornwell said. “But working in IT has given me the communication skills to talk to people about technology in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them and shows them that it isn’t as scary as it seems.”

This past March, Yoo-Cornwell celebrated her fellow WiSyC members in Maryland, where the international WiCyS organization recognized UNLV’s student chapter as student chapter of the year.

The Journey From Student to Cybersecurity Professional

Once a lab student and intern in the university's operations center, Jason Griffin is now the manager of cybersecurity operations for UNLV. In his role, Griffin not only oversees how the campus community prioritizes cybersecurity but also works to strengthen student connections in the world of digital security.

This spring, Griffin hosted a webinar on cybersecurity best practices and how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape for students in UNLV's Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) student organization.

“It's an awesome way to share information directly with students,” said Griffin when talking about his ISACA presentation. “I make a ton of connections from these engagements and get to provide guidance and mentorship.”

Griffin also oversees all cybersecurity students joining the team, providing them with mentorship and high-level opportunities that develop their skills for future careers.

“I love having student workers on my team and in IT. It's a great way for students to gain experience,” Griffin says. “These students have a major impact on our team and have helped to make the information security office what it is today.”