UC student explores rare opportunity in cybersecurity studies
Scholarship enables political science major to broaden academic horizons
Jacob Lesick came to UC’s political science program to change the world and serve his community. Coming from the small town of Rossford, Ohio, Lesick did not intend to enroll in UC after high school but changed his mind after visiting the university.
UC political science major Jacob Lesick. Photo Credit/Provided
"Cincinnati was a really big eye opener. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance; I really liked it here at UC and I wanted to go here,” said Lesick.
The third-year political science major studies economics and war, peace, and security. Lesick has been interested in history and political science since high school and found the latter to be his passion.
”I really want to help make the world a better place, and I really think political science is the way to do that.”
Like many university students, Lesick was searching for new opportunities in his initial years at UC. His professor of international law and organizations class, Albert Klein, mentioned the Cybercorps Scholarship for Service program. The program’s goal is to develop future cybersecurity professionals while they are in school, and after graduation, work for any level of government.
The university received a $4 million dollar grant to fund the program, after being recognized for the cybersecurity pathway in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH). The program is primarily for CECH students studying the science of information technology. As a political science major, this is out of Lesick's wheelhouse.
"I will give it a shot and see where it takes me. I want to work with the government after school anyways and this will be a good pathway to that.”
A unique Cybercorps scholar
UC political science student Jacob Lesick. Photo Credit/Provided
During the application, Lesick made an impression on principal investigator ChengCheng Li, observing that “cybersecurity is starting to intersect with foreign affairs and security.”
With this in his favor, Lesick was selected for the Cybercorps program and began the scholarship in Spring 2023. In his scholarship, Lesick attends monthly meetings with about 15-20 other recipients and discusses their findings and experiences.
Although his input may prove vital for the development of him and his fellow scholarship recipients, there are some challenges. Mainly, Lesick is one of two Arts and Sciences scholarship recipients, and the only student without a background in cybersecurity.
"Sometimes it is hard to understand what they are talking about [technical jargon].”
This has not stopped him being a contributing member, however. Lesick received an opportunity to work with the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, based in UC Digital Futures, in summer 2023. There, Lesick helped the group simulate a volunteer militia in a cyber strategy exercise with reserves of the Ohio National Guard. The four-day exercise tested the cyber strategy and effectiveness of the volunteers, with results sent to the national guard.
An opportunity such as this only scratches the surface of what Jacob plans to experience, as the program offers professional development, job fairs, and job affairs near graduation.
Everybody has the chance to change the world in the way they want.
Jacob Lesick UC political science major
Potential for impact
Now, Lesick continues his studies and works for UC's School for Public and International Affairs (SPIA) in research, and the center for cyber strategy. Through his short tenure as a CyberCorps scholar, he has added a foreign intelligence perspective and found opportunities he may never have had if he went to a different institution.
His work continues to have a lasting impact now in Ohio’s pursuit of a safe cyber world. Besides all the benefits of CyberCorps, Lesick values his newfound perspective of taking a chance.
"I frequently recall looking at some really big opportunities and thinking, 'I did not think I could qualify for [those].' I regret not pursuing those. I wish I realized I should still submit and try for these opportunities,” said Lesick.
Featured image at top: Programmers at work. Credit/Sigmund for Unsplash.
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