Huskers interested in pursuing a career in national intelligence got an up-close look at life in public service.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Intelligence Community Scholars – a student group that focuses on preparing students for careers in national security – organized the first Women in National Security Symposium Feb. 22 in the Nebraska Union.
Participants spent the day in leadership activities with Bossed Up CEO Emilie Aries, learning about career possibilities with several agencies through a career fair and listening to a panel discussion about working in national security as a woman.
“It gave me the opportunity to network with and ask questions of all these amazing agencies,” Judith Brown, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Lincoln said. “It was insightful.”
The panel discussion covered a plethora of topics including career development; personal qualities that are important to have in intelligence; education experiences; and finding a work-life balance.
Tyler White, assistant professor of political science and interim director of the National Security Studies program at Nebraska, said the event brought representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Agency, Strategic Command, Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of National Security and the United States Senate.
The idea sprouted when the IC Scholars executive committee looked around the room.
“Last year, as our new officers came in, we began to talk about the demographic makeup of the Intelligence Community Scholars at Nebraska,” Abby Garden, a senior global studies major from Kearney, said. “What I believe started as a joke regarding our all-female officer team for the second year in a row turned into a conversation about how the majority of our scholars are women.”
The event was well-attended and Garden said she was pleased to see students from outside the IC Scholars group.
“A large number of our students are interested in careers in national security/federal service,” Garden said. “It is so important to support programming and organizations on campus that offer these opportunities to help students achieve their goals.”
The event was co-sponsored by the Space, Cyber and Telecommunications Law Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Career Services and the University Program Council.
