At Shenandoah University, Abigail Keene ’26 gained the hands-on experience she needed to land her current job as a security and compliance engineer at IBM in Texas.  

Keene, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and an Information Technology/Cybersecurity Technician Certificate and augmented her studies with minors in artificial intelligence (AI) and business, worked in Shenandoah’s cybersecurity lab, served as president of the cybersecurity club and did two internships: one as an AI and information technology intern at Retina Associates in Winchester, Virginia, and another, remotely, as a cybersecurity compliance and governance intern with Leidos. 

Real cybersecurity experience

Both internships were incredibly valuable because they exposed me to real professional environments and taught me how to approach technical challenges without always knowing the solution beforehand. One of the biggest lessons I learned was how important it is to be resourceful, ask questions, conduct research, and figure things out independently. They also helped me understand how to communicate professionally and collaborate with different teams.”

Abigail Keene ’26, B.S. in Cybersecurity, IT/Cybersecurity Technician Certificate/AI & business minors

Her internship work built upon a strong foundation. “My classes gave me opportunities to work with vulnerability scanning, security tools, and practical cybersecurity concepts rather than just learning about them in textbooks,” she said. “Working in the lab helped me strengthen my technical skills, while leading the cybersecurity club allowed me to develop leadership, communication, and organizational skills.”

Keene, who was also honored with the Outstanding Cybersecurity Graduate Award, also gained further real-world experience through an independent study course with Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Fadi Abuamara, Ph.D. “She led a team of four students. They developed a gamified cybersecurity awareness program to help employees recognize and respond to phishing attacks, including email, QR-code, and deepfake scams. They created an interactive game, self-paced training module, quick-reference guide, and live workshops,” Dr. Abuamara said. “They evaluated the program through employee assessments and phishing simulations, demonstrating improved phishing detection and reporting, with scores increasing from 66% to 98% after training.”

A unique cybersecurity program

“One of the things that makes Shenandoah’s cybersecurity program special is its smaller size and the personal relationships students can build with their professors,” Keene noted. “Dr. Ralph Wojtowicz and Dr. Abuamara were especially influential during my time at Shenandoah. They frequently worked with me, encouraged me to challenge myself, and motivated me to stay ambitious in pursuing my goals. Having professors who genuinely cared about my success and were willing to invest their time in helping me grow made a tremendous difference in my experience.”

The combination of faculty attention and classroom, club, and real-world experience produced something special for Keene.

Shenandoah helped me grow not only academically and technically, but also as a leader and professional. Serving as president of the cybersecurity club gave me opportunities to develop leadership, networking, and communication skills that I use in my career today.”

Abigail Keene ’26, B.S. in Cybersecurity, IT/Cybersecurity Technician Certificate/AI & business minors

“I also learned the importance of taking initiative, building professional relationships, and pushing myself beyond what was required in the classroom. Those experiences helped prepare me for my current role at IBM and gave me a strong foundation for pursuing leadership opportunities as I continue progressing in my career.”

IBM, AI & advice

At IBM, she focuses on cybersecurity compliance, continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and supporting security requirements for cloud-based services. “I help review security findings, track remediation efforts, and develop automation tools that make compliance processes more efficient. It’s a role that combines technical cybersecurity knowledge, problem-solving, and collaboration across teams.”

It also incorporates her AI minor, which she said she uses for automation and improving efficiency of technical processes. “Having that foundation has been incredibly valuable because it allows me to approach problems with both a cybersecurity and an AI perspective.”

Her advice to anyone considering a similar path to hers begins with learning as much as possible and networking early.

Take advantage of career fairs, get involved in student organizations, build relationships with your professors, and look for opportunities to gain hands-on experience outside the classroom. Prioritize your academics, challenge yourself, and always strive to do your best. The effort you put into your education can open doors to opportunities you might not even realize are available yet.”

Abigail Keene ’26, B.S. in Cybersecurity, IT/Cybersecurity Technician Certificate/AI & business minors

“Most importantly, stay curious. Cybersecurity is a field that requires continuous learning, and developing that mindset while you’re in school will help you tremendously throughout your career.”