Cyber Tiger Yaritza Cisneros Delgado Builds a Path to a Career in Cybersecurity

St. Philip’s College student Yaritza Cisneros Delgado is turning her passion for cybersecurity into professional experience as she prepares to graduate in Fall 2026 with a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity.

A first-generation college student, Cisneros Delgado chose cybersecurity because of the field’s continued growth, evolving technology and wide range of career opportunities.

“Technology and cybersecurity are always changing, which means there is always something new to learn and new challenges to overcome,” Cisneros Delgado said.

Her goal is to pursue a cybersecurity career with the federal government or Department of Defense, protecting systems and information while continuing to strengthen her technical expertise.

Cisneros Delgado chose St. Philip’s College for its affordability, strong cybersecurity program and diverse campus community. As both a Historically Black College and University and a Hispanic-Serving Institution, SPC also provided an environment where she felt represented.

“As a Hispanic student, I felt welcomed and represented,” she said. “That made a big difference to me because I wanted to attend a college where I felt like I belonged.”

At SPC, Cisneros Delgado has gained experience inside and outside the classroom. As an intern in the college’s Security Operations Center, she applies skills learned in her cybersecurity courses to real-world situations. Her experience includes working with security tools, responding to tickets, working with endpoint and extended detection and response technologies, and configuring switches, routers and servers.

She recently reached another professional milestone by earning the CompTIA Security+ certification, an industry-recognized credential validating essential cybersecurity skills.

Cisneros Delgado has also represented SPC in cybersecurity competitions. Through the National Cyber League, she competed against nearly 8,600 students nationwide, placing first among SPC competitors and 385th nationally. She also participated in competitions for the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity as a Cyber Tiger.

Her family, peers and mentors have helped motivate her throughout her college journey.

“As the oldest sibling, I want to be someone they can look up to and show them that they can accomplish their goals through hard work and determination,” she said.

As graduation approaches, Cisneros Delgado plans to continue earning industry certifications and developing the technical skills needed to enter the cybersecurity workforce.

Her accomplishments demonstrate how classroom instruction, hands-on experience, industry certifications and student engagement at St. Philip’s College can help prepare students for high-demand careers in cybersecurity.