The need for information security professionals is great; the need for women in information security is even greater. According to a 2015 Women in Security study by (ISC)2, women represent only 10% of the current workforce. To further empower women in underrepresented career fields, Capella University, (http://www.capella.edu), a regionally accredited online university which offers online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers, has awarded two full-tuition scholarships to female students specializing in information assurance and security.

This year’s winners are Leeandra Wesley and Grace Rubio. These women have demonstrated outstanding leadership in this male-dominated field. Leeandra is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Information Technology with a specialization in Information Assurance and Security. She is a U.S. Navy civilian who leads and manages an Information Security Systems Engineering team to build a functioning Cyber Threat Operations Center. “I am in a position to influence decisions on system security during the design and building phases. I hope to use the skills I receive from Capella's undergraduate degree program to supplement my job's requirements and solidify my standing in this and future job positions.”

Grace is pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Assurance and Security, with a specialization in Digital Forensics. Throughout her career, Grace has made contributions both as a digital forensics examiner and as a role model and thought-leader in her field -- authoring several case studies, articles and publications widely used within the legal community.

“Not only will the Dr. Mary Brown Memorial Scholarship ease the financial burden and resulting stress imposed by pursuing an advanced degree, but it will also honor the next generation of women hoping to pursue a career within information technology by granting me more time and flexibility to provide mentorships and educational opportunities to these young women,” said Rubio.

“We are proud to fund this full-tuition scholarship in honor of Dr. Mary Brown, who served as a faculty leader in information technology at Capella until she passed away in October 2015,” said Bill Dafnis, PhD, Associate Dean of Technology at Capella University. “The scholarship recognizes her passion and commitment to information security, and her desire to attract more women to the field.”

Learn more about the two Capella Dr. Mary Brown Memorial scholarship winners here.

About Capella University
Capella University (www.capella.edu) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1993, the university is dedicated to providing flexible, professionally aligned online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. As of June 30, 2016, more than 38,000 students were enrolled in Capella’s bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs. Known for its commitment to learner success, academic quality and innovations in online education, Capella pioneered competency-based direct assessment programs allowing students to learn at their own pace. Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company (NASDAQ: CPLA). For more information, call 1.888.CAPELLA (888.227.3552).

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