Dr. Betina Tagle, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and CIS, and Brooke Safferman, M. S. Candidate in Cybersecurity, were both featured guest speakers in a recent Totally Trades! Computer Technology career exploration workshop. Dr. Tagle led students through a virtual escape room activity which invited them to practice their critical thinking skills and look for patterns in clues. Brooke shared her experiences as a UMA graduate student and her passion for cybersecurity. The session also featured Patty Voniderstine of MaineHealth Information Technology and Sarah Davies of Prosearch. New Ventures Maine’s Workforce Specialists Kelley Glidden and Lisa Sweet planned and facilitated the session and thank Dr. Tagle, Brooke, and the rest of the speakers for helping to educate and inspire the next generation of women in technology.
Totally Trades! was offered virtually statewide this spring for middle and high school girls interested in learning more about non-traditional trade and technical careers for women. The Computer Technology session was one of eight workshops featuring different industry sectors, including Building and Design, Renewable Energy, Automotive, Public Safety, Fire and Rescue, Communications and Connectivity as well as a Learn and Earn session focused on work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities. For more information, please go to totallytradesmaine.org.