Metro State University cybersecurity students gained an inside look at cybersecurity careers with Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) during the Cyber Clinic Fall Guest Speaker Lecture Series: “Get Ready for Your Cybersecurity Career: Inside MNIT Security,” held September 24 at the Student Center.
The session featured Jen VanDemmeltraadt, Deputy CISO and Enterprise Security Director; Peter Alsis, Cyber Navigator Lead; and Mike Thell, Cyber Threat Intelligence Lead, Minnesota IT Services (MNIT). Together, they provided students with critical insights into real-world cybersecurity operations, career pathways, Minnesota’s evolving cyber threat landscape, and the technical and professional skills employers seek in cybersecurity candidates.
During the two-hour session, students learned what it is like to work in roles such as SOC/Cyber Navigator Analyst and Cyber Intelligence Analyst. The MNIT professionals discussed day-to-day responsibilities, the importance of both technical and professional skills, and ways students can prepare themselves for internships and full-time cybersecurity positions.
The speakers also shared practical perspectives from their respective areas of expertise. Students learned about security operations and organizational cybersecurity leadership, the Cyber Navigator program and its work supporting cybersecurity resilience across Minnesota, and the role of cyber threat intelligence in understanding and responding to emerging threats. These real-world perspectives helped students connect what they are learning in the classroom with the cybersecurity challenges professionals address every day.
A major focus of the event was career readiness. The speakers discussed what employers look for when reviewing cybersecurity candidates and how students can better demonstrate their education, technical knowledge, certifications, projects, hands-on experience, communication skills, and interest in the profession.
Students also received a resume-preparation assignment as part of the lecture series. They will use the coming weeks to review and strengthen their resumes based on the guidance provided by the MNIT professionals.
The learning experience will continue this fall. MNIT cybersecurity professionals will return to Metro State on November 5 for a hands-on resume review session. Students will have the opportunity to bring their updated resumes and receive direct feedback from cybersecurity professionals on how to strengthen their applications and better position themselves for internships and employment opportunities.
The Fall Guest Speaker Lecture Series strengthens the connection between cybersecurity education and workforce preparation by bringing professionals directly into the student learning experience. The collaboration between Metro State University and MNIT gives students opportunities to learn from professionals working in the field, understand current workforce needs, and develop skills that extend beyond the classroom.
By connecting academic preparation with real-world cybersecurity practice and direct career guidance, Metro State is helping students prepare to take the next step toward careers that contribute to the cybersecurity resilience of organizations and communities across Minnesota.