Meet the Cybersecurity Club: Programming for all majors

From time to time, Detroit Mercy’s Marketing & Communications highlights student organizations on the University’s McNichols Campus. This month, we have selected the Cybersecurity Club. 

University of Detroit Mercy’s Cybersecurity Club is dedicated to changing the image of people who work in tech and opening the field to students who may think the club isn’t for them. 

The club, which is open to UDM students in all majors, hosts interactive activities that highlight interesting aspects of cybersecurity, including monthly meetings, guest speakers, competitions and more. 

“The goal is to bridge the gap between other majors and cybersecurity” said Cybersecurity Club Vice President Ali Laho, a Health Administration and Cybersecurity double major. “As the world becomes more digital, aspects of cybersecurity are connected through all parts of life.” 

The revamping of the Cybersecurity Club began in fall 2022. Its Instagram page is updated weekly and is promoted to all students. There, students can find information, such as club meeting dates and time, descriptions of each meeting day event, as well as fundraising information and other information relating to the Detroit Mercy Cybersecurity department  

“Club meetings are typically social events that do not require any knowledge of the field under the cybersecurity theme,” Laho said. “This includes engaging speakers from the cybersecurity industry, demonstrations on gaining access to electrons, as well as activity-based events.” 

The Cybersecurity Club also competes in yearly competitions. This includes ISACA — a two-day event open to all universities — as well as Detroit Mercy-run competitions. Both are open to all students and assistance is available from the club’s faculty advisors, Department Chair of Cybersecurity & Information Systems Gregory Laidlaw and Director of UDM’s Center of Cyber Security & Intelligence Studies Anne Kohnke. 

Club officers said they intend to offer a variety of events for each meeting to promote innovation.  

This semester, the Cybersecurity Club plans to meet once per month on the following Mondays: Jan. 29, Feb. 19, March 18 and April 8. Meetings are held in Room 217 of the Briggs Building from 5:30-6:30 p.m. 

To learn more about the Cybersecurity Club, visit its Detroit Mercy Live page or follow its Instagram page. Students can provide feedback and suggestions to the club by messaging it on Instagram.

- By Marketing & Communications student intern Zahra Albdair