Loyce Pailen, director of University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Center for Security Studies has been named by the Executive Women’s Forum on Information Security, Risk Management, and Privacy (EWF) as a finalist for the 2018 Women of Influence Awards presented by Alta Associates. Award recipients will be announced Oct. 24 during the 16th Annual EWF National Conference at Scottsdale, Arizona.

"It is with great pride that the Executive Women's Forum recognizes the Women of Influence Awards finalists for their remarkable achievements in the fields of information security, risk management and privacy," said Joyce Brocaglia, EWF Founder and CEO of Alta Associates. “We celebrate them [finalists] for both their accomplishments and the positive impact they have on the future generation of women leaders.”

Finalists are being recognized in four categories: Public Sector & Academia, Private Solutions Provider, Corporate Practitioner, and One-to-Watch. Pailen, a finalist in the Public Sector & Academia category, is a longtime advocate for increasing the ranks of women in cybersecurity and in educating youth—especially young women and girls—about the importance of cybersecurity and the wealth of career opportunities the cyber field offers.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized for my efforts to encourage women inclined toward technology to embrace cybersecurity as a way to advance their careers,” said Pailen. “During my 30-plus years in information technology, software development, and as a children’s book author, I remain committed to closing the gender gap in cybersecurity, a traditionally male-dominated field,” she added.

Judges will select an award recipient from each category of finalists based on a set of criteria that includes having a positive influence on the professional community, applying creativity or innovation in problem solving, a demonstrated commitment to the highest ethical standards, a history of designing and implementing effective solutions, having a sustained record of accomplishments and contributions to the field, and serving as a trusted mentor to colleagues, students and others.

In addition to Pailen, finalists in the Public Sector & Academia category are:

• Cindy Cohn, Executive Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Kristin Judge, President and CEO, Cybercrime Support Network

The EWF also confers a Corporate Award on one corporation each year for its efforts in advancing and promoting women in their organization.

 About Loyce Pailen Director of University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Center for Security Studies, Pailen has more than 35 years’ wide-ranging experience in information technology that includes work in cybersecurity, software development, project management, telecommunications, risk management, and network and systems security and administration. She has held director-level information technology positions at the Washington Post, Graham Holdings, UMUC, and as a contractor at Computer Sciences Corporation for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Cyber Investigations Training Academy (DCITA). She has also provided project leadership for instructional design and subject-matter expertise for the development of major graduate, undergraduate and community college information systems security curriculum development projects.

Pailen earned her bachelor’s, master’s and Doctor of Management degrees at UMUC and is a Computer Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). See Loyce Pailen’s entry in UMUC’s Cyber Experts Guide to learn more.

About the EWF Founded in 2002, the Executive Women’s Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy is the largest member organization serving prominent and influential women in information security, cybersecurity, IT risk management, governance risk and compliance and privacy. The EWF serves emerging leaders by facilitating programs and events throughout the year including a national conference, regional meetings, leadership development and mentorship programs, as well as interaction with global thought leaders through an online community. Learn more on the EWF website.

About Alta Associates Founded in 1986 Alta Associates is widely acknowledged as the leading boutique executive search firm specializing in Information Security, Cybersecurity, and IT Risk Management. Alta is recognized for their deep understanding of the information security industry and the drives that shape it. Having successfully partnered with global enterprises for 30 years, Alta has filled many of the most high-profile Chief Information Security Officer roles and built world-class Information Security, Cybersecurity and IT Risk organizations. Alta is well known for their ability to attract and deliver top-tier executives and the teams that support them and is named as one of the top 50 executive search firms in the United States. For more information visit altaassociates.com.

Other 2018 EWF Awards Finalists

Corporate Practitioner:

• Rhonda Childress, IBM Fellow, Vice President of Global Technology Services, Data Security and Privacy Officer, IBM
• Min-Hwei Liu, Director, Global Security Risk Management, e.Discovery and Adaptive Enablement, Aetna
• Teresa Zielinski, SVP, Chief Information Security Officer and Product Security Leader, GE Power

One-to-Watch:

• Rachel Friedman, Security Operations Manager, Madison Square Garden
• Virginia Mayo, Chief Engineer of the IBM Services Security Patch Management Program, IBM
• Rebekah Mohr, Security Manager, Accenture

Private Solutions Provider:

• Bonnie Butlin, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Security Partners’ Forum
• Tammy Moskites, Managing Director & Senior Security Executive, Accenture
• Saryu Nayyar, CEO and Co-Founder, Gurucul

EWF Corporate Award finalists:

• 3M
• Target
• Booz Allen Hamilton