Rian Ferria

About Rian Ferria

I\'ve had a passion for technology in all areas since I was in elementary school in Mississippi. A low-income student facing instability with housing and family, I didn\'t expect to enroll or afford college. The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award for high school students, an award I received as a senior, introduced me to MSU, where I eventually graduated with a degree in Software Engineering and launched my career as a fierce advocate for others from my background that wished to have a tech career.I founded and directed “Bulldog Bytes,” a residential summer camp program for students in rural Mississippi. We were able to bring students from the region to campus for a full week of exploring the many paths technology could take them. Over three years with myself as the director, the program received 3x as many applicants in its third year than it did in its first. After my departure, the program continued to expand in providing similar experiences for other demographic groups. Since graduating, I have spent the majority of my career in cybersecurity. The majority of my experience has been in data loss prevention, where I have worked in multiple roles as an analyst and a leader. I have championed multiple process automation efforts by working across teams and have been recognized by my peers in this area. I am also a co-founder of the Last Mile Education Fund, a non-profit organization that challenges traditional scholarship models and supports students interested in tech careers. As a public speaker, I advocate for diversity and inclusion, focusing on low-income, first-generation, and minority students.

Experience

1. Information Security Controls Specialist

   Bank of America

   Aug 2023 — Present

Education

• Virginia Tech

  Master's degree

  2020 — 2024

• Mississippi State University

  Bachelor’s Degree

  2013 — 2018