{"id":1921,"date":"2023-10-20T10:27:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/cybersecurity\/?p=1921"},"modified":"2026-06-01T16:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T22:22:33","slug":"cybersecurity-awareness-month-student-spotlight-kacey-wheeler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/cybersecurity\/2023\/10\/20\/cybersecurity-awareness-month-student-spotlight-kacey-wheeler\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Student Spotlight- Kacey Wheeler"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At Boise State University, students like Kacey Wheeler are gearing up to enter the dynamic field of cybersecurity, armed with passion, purpose, and a relentless drive to protect the digital world we all depend on. Kacey Wheeler, a senior at Boise State University, is working towards a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kacey’s fascination with computers began long before university. She explains, \u201cI always knew I wanted to do something related to computers because, in high school, I took a few computer science and engineering-related courses.\u201d However, she soon discovered that her true calling lies within cybersecurity. \u201cI knew I liked it, but I didn’t love programming at a high level. So then I learned about the CORe program that BSU offered since it went more into the cybersecurity field of it all,\u201d she reflects. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, adaptability and exploration are key. Kacey emphasized the importance of being open to new things. \u201cEverything in cybersecurity is rapidly changing, and new areas start existing out of thin air,\u201d she notes. At the Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity\u2019s Cyberdome initiative- a collaborative and hands-on workspace for competency-based development, she is learning to explore the vast opportunities within the field.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Kacey’s proudest moments was pitching her cybersecurity education concept at Hackfort, a cybersecurity event through the Venture College that brings together technologists, creators, and innovators. \u201cI pitched an idea about cybersecurity education to make it more accessible, fun, and engaging. I won funding for my business idea and have worked with the Venture College ever since to make it a reality.\u201d Kacey’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication are evident as she strives to make cybersecurity engaging. Kacey\u2019s business, Encryptrix, is focused on teaching children about cybersecurity. The course includes basic digital literacy to be an overall safe cyber citizen. \u201cI have worked teaching children about password cracking tools and what makes a good password so they can avoid being scammed,\u201d says Kacey.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking forward, Wheeler has clear goals. She plans to secure a job in cybersecurity, leveraging the skills she has learned in the Cyberdome and her academic coursework. Additionally, she aspires to pursue a master’s degree and continue building her business. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about a dream job, Kacey lights up with excitement. \u201cThe industry I want to be a part of is healthcare cybersecurity,\u201d she shares. Kacey’s enthusiasm for this field started with her experiences at DEFCON, an annual event in Las Vegas where tech-savvy experts give talks and presentations on vulnerability research, malware analysis, cybersecurity efforts in the healthcare industry, and more. She explains, \u201cI learned a lot about how valuable it is to have a strong cybersecurity foundation in a hospital because they are saving people’s lives by preventing these attacks from happening to the medical software that keeps people alive.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the never-ending field of cybersecurity, Kacey is eager to continue her education and explore new frontiers. \u201cI just want to get my feet wet,\u201d she says. \u201cLearning from this daily will help me reach my goal of working in the healthcare industry.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Kacey Wheeler continues her journey into the world of cybersecurity, her passions, adaptability, and commitment to safeguarding our digital future serve as an inspiration to aspiring cybersecurity professionals. With the increasing importance of cybersecurity, individuals like Kacey play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of our interconnected society. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Boise State University, students like Kacey Wheeler are gearing up to enter the dynamic…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":435,"featured_media":1876,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[270,268],"tags":[272,269,271],"class_list":["post-1921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyberdome","category-cybersecurity-blog","tag-cyber-news","tag-cyberdome","tag-cybersecurity-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCybersecurity Awareness Month: Student Spotlight- Kacey Wheeler - Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/cybersecurity\/2023\/10\/20\/cybersecurity-awareness-month-student-spotlight-kacey-wheeler\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Student Spotlight- Kacey Wheeler - 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