University of Cincinnati
09/26/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2025 10:09
UC cybersecurity major discovers learning never stops in IT
UC cybersecurity major discovers learning never stops in IT
Senior finds workplace collaboration is among the tools needed to forge ahead
By Cedric Ricks Email CedricEmail Cedric 260-415-8554
9 minute read September 26, 2025 Share on facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print StoryLike
Jalen Tucker is drawn to the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity.
Threats to computer systems, networks and data breaches for companies, organizations and government agencies are commonplace with cybercriminals always finding a new avenue to accomplish malicious intent.
"Learning never stops in IT," explains University of Cincinnati student Tucker, referring to his work in information technology. "Technology is advancing every three years. Nothing stays the same, so you have to constantly keep learning and that part of me is always excited to grow and work on different projects.
"Technology changes as the condition changes," adds Tucker. "It can also be hard since you are trying to learn many new things that are not always immediately understood. It really shows you areas of weakness."
Jalen Tucker on a service learning trip in Tanzania. Photo/Sean Hughes/UC Marketing + Brand
Tucker, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity offered in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, says three co-ops in the field have shown him that collaboration is integral to cybersecurity. He has worked for three Cincinnati companies: initially, Great American Insurance Group followed by American Financial Group and General Electric Aerospace.
His co-ops were a mix of hybrid and remote work experiences. He wasn't always required to be onsite at a company and that flexibility is attractive to Tucker. A native of Cincinnati, Tucker is a UC Marian Spencer Scholar. He has been active in the college's CECH Tribunal, serving as IT Chair and part of student government serving as a senator. Tucker was also among the Spencer Scholars who were part of a service learning experience in Tanzania with Village Life Outreach.
"I guess the typical view when it comes to IT professionals is we only know code, kind of stay to ourselves, and we don't work well with other people. My co-ops have shown me that IT and cybersecurity work are very collaborative fields," explains Tucker. "It means working with different teams and understanding their needs and then adapting to those needs."
His latest co-op was at General Electric Aerospace during this past summer where he researched artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in cybersecurity to better understand threat detection and intelligence automation. He used artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) to architect an AI-based email classifier.
"This system grouped similar emails together, determined how similar the emails were to one another, and provided a risk score based on emails that had already been identified as malicious," explains Tucker. "The goal of the project was to increase automation and improve productivity."
During his third year at UC, Tucker co-oped at American Financial Group as a systems administrative intern handling system upgrades, patches and security while troubleshooting complex issues. Tucker also managed computer servers, both virtual and physical, monitoring performance and availability.
Jalen Tucker in Tanzania. Photo/Sean Hughes/UC Marketing + Brand
At the end of his second year at UC, Tucker co-oped at Great American Insurance Group serving as a risk and compliance intern. He ensured compliance with the prevailing laws by managing user access and validating production data changes to maintain integrity and compliance standards.
"One thing I've learned is the importance of business professionalism, but from a technology standpoint," Tucker explains. "You may co-op for a company that may not prioritize technology but it's still very important to their needs. It becomes critical to communicate this to an employer.
"Cybersecurity may be considered important but not always understood. You have to present yourself in a way that can show the value of your work and how it boosts security. You must help employers understand the risks when they don't have the security measures in place to protect a company."
UC students Jalen Tucker and Marcus Elliot were Marian Spencer Scholars traveling to Kenya and Tanzania during a service learning trip in May 2023. Photo/Sean Hughes/University of Cincinnati.
Co-op at UC
- 8,395 students participated during the 2024-25 academic year
- UC ranked among the top five universities nationally in co-op
- Collective self-reported earnings of $94 million in that same period
- The last reported co-op data indicate a 5% increase in wages
-
On average, co-ops earned $11,220 per student per semester
Cybersecurity professionals in demand
The job outlook for entry-level cybersecurity professionals is strong, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which is predicting the sector to grow 29% by 2034. The median annual wage for these professionals is $124,910, according to the bureau.
"Cybersecurity is a growing field so it's not a field where you get trained and you use it for the rest of your career," explains Jacques Bou Abdo, assistant professor in UC's School of Information Technology. "There's always a need for newer technologies and newer skills. "Cybersecurity is there to guarantee that businesses operate and continue to operate without disturbances."
Bou Abdo is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in complex systems, cybersecurity, cyber warfare, computational economics and network economics. He is currently studying cyber and strategic deterrence, the flow of cyberattacks, network resiliency in cyber warfare and the flow of infectious diseases in biological warfare.
Artificial intelligence is changing the way many professionals accomplish their assigned tasks. Photo/Istock.
Bou Abdo says professors in his department teach students how to think from a cybersecurity perspective. "That means critical thinking, how to have scientific thinking in cybersecurity that will equip them with the basic ability to understand any new technology that comes their way."
Instructors in the School of Information Technology are often balancing the need to teach critical thinking with making sure graduates are aware of new technologies emerging in the field. Tucker says he sees that tension in his classes.
"UC IT expects you to learn from working. That's the whole reason we have five co-ops instead of three required ones like another college," says Tucker. "With IT you can't just really teach it, you have to encourage students to go out and experience the field.
"You learn the lessons in class but you might not necessarily grasp what they mean until you work for an employer," says Tucker. "Then when you come back to class after your first or second co-op you will start to understand."
UC placed 539 students majoring in cybersecurity in co-op experiences in 2024-25, according to an annual report put out by UC's College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. There were also 444 students majoring in information technology who had co-op experiences that year, the report also noted.
"The traits that make a student successful in cybersecurity and information technology is someone who is willing to do different jobs, different tasks and is interested and excited in learning new perspectives over time," says Bou Abdo. "This career requires continuous reading and continuous updating to avoid becoming obsolete. So, who is ready and has the stamina to go into this race for the long run? Who is interested in continuous learning?
"Over time, the ones that have those traits will reach the mountain peak, not the ones who are just very smart or brilliant," says Bou Abdo.
Jalen Tucker, a UC senior cybersecurity major, says AI is just another tool for cybersecurity professionals to do their job. Photo provided.
Using the tools of the trade
In the media there has been some talk about AI possibly limiting jobs for some cybersecurity professionals, but Tucker says that isn't a worry for him.
"There is a big shift in innovation and automation," explains Tucker. "There is a move to make tasks automated for people and less tedious. Maybe we don't need as many professionals handling one task when AI and computers are in the mix. Now even though AI is important, it still takes someone who is knowledgeable to really work in technology."
Tucker says using AI is not as simple as just asking ChatGPT to do something.
"You still need trained engineers to be able to segregate data and build up models that can hold company information safely," says Tucker. "AI is just not as robust."
Tucker says the use of AI won't replace cybersecurity professionals. He uses an analogy of writers and the rise of typewriters to make his point.
"Typewriters made it easier for people to write information," says Tucker. "But they still needed skills to gather information and then an understanding of how to use the typewriter to do their job. Otherwise, people are using pencil and paper to manually write things. Typewriters helped writers do their job, and similarly AI is also just another tool for cybersecurity professionals to do their job."
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