Alumnus Networks Into Cybersecurity Career

ALUMNUS NETWORKS INTO CYBERSECURITY CAREER

"I DON’T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I DID IF I HAD GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE... I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND LAKE LAND TO ANYONE."

Richard Donovan has been taking apart and putting together computers since childhood, and now he is working as a cybersecurity engineer at the University of Illinois.

“What I love most about this job are the challenges and finding ways to overcome them,” Donovan said. “I get to use problem-solving and critical thinking skills every day, and I never stop learning new things.” went on to accept a position as Information Security Specialist at Lake Land less than eight months later.

Donovan had been working 70 to 80 hours each week as an EMT when he decided to return to college and pursue a degree in Information Technology in January 2020. Thus began his Lake Land journey as both a non-traditional student and a custodian at the college to pay for IT classes.

Only one year after beginning classes at Lake Land, Donovan got an internship at the college with Information Systems and Services for the Infrastructure Team and went on to accept a position as Information Security Specialist at Lake Land less than eight months later.

In this role, he continued to utilize and improve his skills and graduated with an associate degree in IT Network Administration in 2022.

“I got a really hands-on approach to learning a lot of the processes and things in a short time,” Donovan said. “I don’t think I would have been able to experience a lot of the things that I did if I had gone somewhere else.”

Regarding his time spent at Lake Land College as both student and employee, Donovan said he “wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

“I got to interact with a lot of great people,” Donovan said. “In my opinion Lake Land has some of the best programs around. I had a great experience here, and I’d highly recommend Lake Land to anyone.”

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AREA OF STUDY

Computer Systems

Computer Technician

Desktop Publishing

IT – Computer Applications Specialist

IT – Computer Game Development

IT – Digital Media Specialist

IT – Graphic Design

IT – Network Administration

IT – Programming

IT – Web Design

Information Technology Exploratory Area of Study

LEARN MORE

For more information or to get started in an Information Technology Area of Study visit lakelandcollege.edu.