{"id":241315,"date":"2026-07-08T07:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T11:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/08\/from-csu-to-cybersecurity-dodson-24-turns-determination-into-a-high-tech-career\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:00:10","slug":"from-csu-to-cybersecurity-dodson-24-turns-determination-into-a-high-tech-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/08\/from-csu-to-cybersecurity-dodson-24-turns-determination-into-a-high-tech-career\/","title":{"rendered":"From CSU to Cybersecurity: Dodson \u201924 turns determination into a high-tech career"},"content":{"rendered":"

From CSU to Cybersecurity: Dodson \u201924 turns determination into a high-tech career<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/news.columbusstate.edu\/posts\/from-csu-to-cybersecurity-dodson-24-turns-determination-into-a-high-tech-career\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Publish Date: 2026-07-08 07:55:00<\/a><\/p>\n

Source Domain: news.columbusstate.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: <\/a><\/p>\n

Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. <\/p>\n

July 8, 2026<\/p>\n

Kaylee Dodson \u201924 is building a career protecting what matters most in today\u2019s digital
\n world: data. As an information governance analyst at Aflac, she plays a key role in
\n safeguarding sensitive information and helping her organization stay secure in an
\n increasingly complex cyber landscape. Her path to this role was not traditional, but
\n it was shaped by determination, mentorship, and the opportunities she found at Columbus
\n State University.
\n When Dodson enrolled at Columbus State, she initially planned to study finance until
\n she found a direction that felt right. That changed when she was introduced to the
\n university\u2019s Cybersecurity Nexus Program. With no prior background in technology, stepping into cybersecurity required a steep
\n learning curve that she called \u201ca complete culture shock, and my brain kind of melted
\n at first.\u201d
\n Her path between high school in her native Fayetteville, Georgia, and college wasn\u2019t
\n a straight one. She took a break from school after starting her college studies to
\n work a variety of jobs, searching for direction and purpose. However, after realizing
\n those jobs did not provide a clear path forward, she decided to return to school.
\n At CSU, Dodson immersed herself in both academics and campus life, balancing two part-time
\n jobs while staying deeply involved in student organizations. She served as president
\n of the Women in Technology Club for five semesters, participated in the International Public Debate Association
\n Debate Team, worked as an Honors College student assistant (pictured), and served
\n as communications officer for the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).
\n She also served as a student ambassador for the Nexus program.
\n Despite her growing involvement, the transition into a highly technical field was
\n not without challenges. Dodson credits much of her success to the mentorship and support
\n she received from faculty and staff, particularly within the Nexus program and the
\n Honors College: \u201cIf I didn\u2019t have that consistent support from faculty and staff,
\n I don\u2019t think I would be the same person I am today,\u201d she said.\u00a0
\n Dodson (front row, center) with her classmates, instructors and fellow Women in Technology
\n Club members preparing for Columbus State to host a Women in Technology event.
\n She points to mentors like Armando Fernandez and Elke Brumbaugh, lecturers of the TSYS School of Computer Science, along with Honors College academic advisor Kristi Rehrauer\u2014whom she describes as her \u201ccampus mom\u201d\u2014as instrumental
\n in her growth.
\n \u201cThey made themselves available and opened up their resources to me,\u201d Dodson said.
\n \u201cIt was continuous support throughout my entire time at CSU. I\u2019ll forever be grateful
\n for that.\u201d
\n Professional development opportunities through the Cybersecurity Nexus Program also played a critical role in preparing her for the workforce. Through mock interviews
\n and networking experiences, Dodson developed the confidence and communication skills
\n needed to stand out, recalling that\u00a0\u201cthose mock interviews 100% got me here. That
\n experience changed everything for me.\u201d She credits the connections she made and experience
\n she gained with securing a co-op position around the time she graduated.
\n As an information security analyst with Synovus Bank (now Pinnacle Financial Partners),
\n she gained hands-on experience in cybersecurity, which helped launch her career. Now
\n at Aflac, Dodson works in the Fortune 200 company\u2019s Global Security Department, helping
\n to manage and protect its data. Her work is essential to maintaining the company\u2019s
\n digital integrity and preventing vulnerabilities.\u00a0
\n \u201cWe look at data and determine if it\u2019s sensitive, who owns it, and how long we need
\n to keep it,\u201d she said. \u201cWe make sure it\u2019s protected and handled properly so it stays
\n within regulations. You don\u2019t have a company if you don\u2019t have data.\u201d
\n Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Dodson is passionate about increasing awareness
\n around cybersecurity, especially for those who may not have been exposed to it.
\n \u201cPeople don\u2019t want to talk about cyber safety, but they also don\u2019t get taught how
\n important it is,\u201d she said, noting that she often brings her professional passion
\n into her personal life by helping family members better understand online risks. \u201cI
\n need people I care about to think, \u2018Could this be a scam?\u2019\u201d
\n For her family and friends, she also emphasizes the importance of balance in a fast-paced,
\n technology-driven field and life from behind the screen: \u201cTouch grass. Go outside.
\n Experience something outside of a computer.\u201d\u00a0
\n From academic and professional uncertainty to a thriving career in cybersecurity,
\n Dodson\u2019s story highlights the power of persistence, mentorship, and finding the right
\n path.\u00a0
\n \u201cI\u2019m very glad with where I am,\u201d she said. \u201cThe blood, sweat and tears with Nexus
\n helped me get here.\u201d
\n Looking ahead, Dodson hopes to continue working at the intersection of technology
\n and human connection. For students considering a similar path, her message is simple:
\n \u201cIf I can do it, you can do it.\u201d She hopes future students will continue to benefit
\n from the same opportunities that shaped her journey.<\/p>\n

Averi Morton of the Office of Strategic Communication + Marketing submitted this article
\n for publication.
\n Media contact: \u00a0Michael Tullier, APR<\/p>\n

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