I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater. I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like 戴夫马里昂.
瑞秋Cullity, ’21, G’23, helps safeguard the financial systems and taxpayer money that power a plethora of Massachusetts government services.
It’s a critical job – and one she may have never found if not for the mentoring of a Bridgewater State cybersecurity instructor.
“I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater,Cullity说。, a compliance officer with the state Office of the Comptroller. “I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like 戴夫马里昂.”
Cullity began her full-time position in June, soon after earning a master’s degree in criminal justice with a certificate in cybersecurity and cyber-criminology. She protects state financial systems from fraud and cybersecurity attacks and helps agencies follow relevant laws.
“I wanted to have a really important job that gives back to taxpayers,Cullity说。, who also studied criminal justice as an undergraduate at BSU. “I wanted to play an important role in the commonwealth.”
Cullity’s experience in the comptroller’s office began as a summer intern while in graduate school at BSU. She helped develop a campaign raising awareness about suspicious emails that was subsequently implemented. For 网络安全 Awareness Month this October, Cullity is continuing to build cybersecurity awareness among state employees.
马里恩, who met Cullity in his introductory cybersecurity course, encouraged her to apply for the internship. She credits it with helping her see a way to use her academic knowledge in the workforce.
网络安全 internships provide intensive, first-hand work experience in a way that classroom instruction can’t fulfill, 马里恩说, who also serves as BSU’s director of information security.
“We can do a lot with simulating the technical stuff,” he said. “What’s more difficult to simulate is relationships and understanding how relationships work in an organization.”
在波士顿州立大学, Cullity also served as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association and criminal justice honor society. Now she is the director of young professionals for the AGA Boston chapter, an organization for workers and students involved in government financial management.
Her commitment to giving back stands out, 马里恩 said.
“Her leadership and willingness to help others really sets her apart,” he said. “The way Rachel does it is in a very collegial, very supportive, very collaborative way.”
Cullity credits 马里恩’s course with planting the seed that the burgeoning field might hold a viable opportunity for her.
“He told me that I could do it,” she said. “I just had to stay focused.”
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