From Web Development to Cybersecurity: Kiera Varela Builds Her Future at St. Philip’s College

St. Philip’s College alumna and current cybersecurity student Kiera Varela is transforming her interest in technology into a promising career through academic achievement, hands-on experience and campus involvement.

Varela graduated from SPC in Spring 2023 with an associate degree in Web and Mobile Development and earned an associate degree in Cybersecurity in Fall 2024. She is now on track to complete her Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity in Fall 2026.

“I chose this field because it is growing, and I really like that there is a wide variety of career paths within it,” Varela said. “From hands-on technical roles such as penetration testing and incident response to roles like risk management and policy, it allows me to see which career path fits me best.”

Varela initially chose St. Philip’s College because her mother attended SPC and spoke highly of her experience. Affordability also played an important role, allowing her to pursue multiple degrees and a bachelor’s degree without taking on significant debt.

Her education has extended beyond the classroom through an internship in the college’s Security Operations Center (SOC). Varela has gained practical experience with Active Directory, switches, routers, data storage systems, Cisco XDR and Cisco Secure Endpoint. She has also monitored security alerts, investigated incidents and developed Capture the Flag challenges for a locally hosted cybersecurity competition.

“When I started working on campus as an intern in the SOC, I realized just how advanced the program really is,” Varela said.

Varela has also been an active member of the Cyber Tigers, competing in the National Cyber League for three consecutive semesters, in National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity competitions, and in the AFCEA Alamo Chapter-Capture the Flag competition.

Her campus involvement reaches beyond cybersecurity. Varela served as a peer mentor and helped coordinate events through the F.R.E.E. organization. Her digital artwork has also been published in the St. Philip’s College Tiger P.A.W.S. publication, where one piece earned a Judges’ Choice Award.

Varela credits her mentors, supervisors and peers with encouraging her journey.

“It’s extremely motivating to have that type of support system,” she said. “It feels like a family.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Varela hopes to work for a leading cybersecurity company in a Security Operations Center role, applying the skills she developed at SPC to real-world threat detection and response.

Her journey reflects St. Philip’s College’s commitment to providing students with the education, hands-on experiences, and professional preparation needed to succeed in high-demand technology careers.