Cybersecurity Student Follows Calling to Ireland Amanda Henderson (CAS ’21) felt that God was calling her to go to Ireland—she just wasn’t sure how to get there. Amanda was pursuing her degree online from landlocked Indiana. She had never been on any plane, let alone one making an international journey. She had no family or connections in Ireland. But God made a way through her cybersecurity internship program at Regent. “It was obvious that when things started falling into place, God’s hand was in it,” said Amanda. “But that first step of faith was absolutely terrifying.” When Amanda began studying at Regent, she found that it was the perfect place to integrate her love for cybersecurity with her faith—the rigorous coursework and biblical focus fed both her mind and spirit. This desire to serve God with her tech-savvy talents led her to an internship for Causeway Coast Vineyard, a church in Northern Ireland. Cybersecurity may not seem like the natural fit for a church internship. Still, Amanda said it’s something that churches need to consider in this digital age to protect their congregation from hackers. Amanda’s main project aligned the church with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). These regulations help businesses protect personal information and include setting up firewalls and strong password policies. Amanda was initially nervous about how well she could apply what she learned in class to the real world. However, once she started, she realized just how well Regent had prepared her for the task.
“The cybersecurity curriculum has been very hands-on,” said Amanda. “And getting this real-world experience has made me realize that my education has prepared me to step out and exercise all I’ve learned.” In addition to applying the knowledge learned at Regent, the internship allowed Amanda to refine her interpersonal communication in the workplace and grow confidently. Cheryl Beauchamp, director of Regent’s Institute for Cybersecurity, said she couldn’t be more pleased with Amanda’s experience as the first student to take the cybersecurity internship course since they began offering it last fall. “God is so good because he brought Amanda to that program,” said Beauchamp. “She’s making a difference. The opportunity for students at Regent to go out while they’re studying to make an impact is something that we embrace here.” The biggest culture shock for Amanda going overseas from the United States? “Learning the difference between fries and chips,” she said with a laugh. Thanks to Amanda’s internship, she has a job lined up in Ireland and is looking forward to serving the Lord there through her passion for technology. “God can use you no matter what you do. God has put those passions and skills that you have in you for a reason,” said Amanda. “Regent did a good job of showing me that.” Learn more about Regent’s B.S. in Cybersecurity at regent.edu/cyber.
