A lockdown-era spark became a calling. Lauren Sims started tinkering with computers around age 15, then arrived at PennWest as a Criminal Justice major. Conversations with faculty—and a course that covered cybersecurity and cyber forensics—showed how to merge that passion with justice. She added concentrations in Cyber Forensics and Forensic Investigation, plus a Computer Information Systems minor to “get the best of both sides.”

Lauren’s journey captures PennWest’s learn-it-then-do-it rhythm. Faculty advised, connected her with coursework and labs, and encouraged applied learning through internships. With Dr. Hsieh’s support, she landed a paid cybersecurity internship over the summer—turning classroom tools and techniques into on-the-job experience and momentum for what comes next. The result was a shift from headlines about breaches to step-by-step investigations: collecting evidence, reading logs, and reconstructing what really happened. “As soon as you start talking to the faculty, it piques your interest,” she notes.

Her goal is impact at scale. Five to ten years from now, Lauren sees herself in a federal cybersecurity role, protecting people by building defenses and investigating crimes using the tools, methods and judgment honed at PennWest. The path ahead is demanding, but PennWest has given her the foundation—and the momentum—to meet it.