Tori Simon

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity emphasis

Future Plans: Attend Aalto University in Finland as part of the SECCLO joint master’s program

Honored Faculty: Dr. Jerry Alan Fails, Department of Computer Science, Associate Professor

When Tori entered Boise State as a wide-eyed, hopeful freshman three years ago, she had never written a line of code in her life. She was about as inexperienced as one could possibly be for a computer science program, equipped only with a fierce determination and a steadfast dedication to her goals.

In her first year, she earned an internship at the Idaho National Laboratory working with its nuclear cybersecurity team to conduct research into the security of industrial control systems and nuclear power plants. She worked on the published technical report “Autonomous Systems Subversion Tactics,” which investigated different machine-learning attacks against a hypothetical autonomous reactor. Through this endeavor she gained resourcefulness and independence, learning valuable problem-solving and research skills. That same summer, the Honors College allowed her to study philosophy for three weeks at the University of Oxford, an excursion that awoke in her a new love of international travel.

Tori later went on to spend a semester studying in Hamburg, Germany, at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. There, she gained a valuable international perspective and appreciation for cultures other than her own. Upon her return, she took on a new role as the Vice President of External Affairs for Boise State’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers — a position that had been newly restored after the pandemic. She spent her final year speaking at high schools, conducting STEM demonstrations at elementary schools, and working with companies in the Boise area to bring in hundreds of dollars for SWE, money that directly benefited members. Tori looks forward to accepting her place in the SECCLO Erasmus joint master’s program, where she will study cloud computing and security at Aalto University in Finland.

Tori is from Meridian, Idaho.

Scholarships and Awards: OAL Law Accountability and Morality Scholarship, Idaho Power Academic Excellence Scholarship, Haugse-Cossey Scholarship, DL Evans Bank Scholarship, Meridian Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, Lightfoot Foundation Scholarship, Xillinx Empowering Women in Engineering Scholarship, Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, Idaho Post Secondary Credit Scholarship, ISACA Boise Scholarship, Thelma Brown Engineering, Thelma Brown Endowed Scholarship, Alumni Legacy Scholarship, Bronco Shop Scholarship, Engineering and Innovation Community LLC Love of Learning Award and Gem Award