Elaine Mcleod

I attribute my success to my determination to pursue education despite being a first-generation college graduate. My Dad and Mom was not afforded the opportunity to finish high school, and I'm the only one out of four siblings who completed college past a two year degree. When I started at Midlands Technical College as a student working as a lab monitor, literally just making sure nothing was stolen and tearing off the print jobs every 30 minutes, I decided that I was going to have to finish my education if I was going to go anywhere. That drive to want it and pursue it, even when no one in my family had instilled that in me, made all the difference. Additionally, the support of my parents was instrumentaI. I had to find mentors, and it was important to be around like-minded people who could provide support. I continued my education from my Associate's at Midlands to my Bachelor's at Limestone and then my Masters at Webster University in 1999, and I've been able to build a 40-year career at the same institution where I started as a student.

Truest words ever..........Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life!

You can have an excellent education if you want it, you can pursue it and claim it to be yours. It doesn't matter who has higher education in your family, you can start a new generation and then help others to do the same. I instilled in my daughter that college was never even up for discussion, she knew she was going to college, and she's a pharmacist now. Always get involved with organizations like UpWISE and Women in Cybersecurity, which offers scholarships to students. For just $15 to join Women in Cybersecurity, students can get access to incredible opportunities. I met 3 students at the last conference who applied for a scholarship through WSIS, got it, and it was a $30,000 scholarship. You cannot beat it for the cost per year. Anything that you're accepted into is paid for fully, and about 800 to 1,000 students attend that conference every year, all of them on scholarships. It is a wonderful organization, and it's for men also, not just for females.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is finding funding for student opportunities and memberships in organizations that can truly change their lives. I'm constantly trying to find funding anywhere I can, and it's tough! For example, it only costs a student $15 to join Women in Cybersecurity, which gives them access to scholarships like the $30,000 awards that three of my students received at the last conference. About 800 to 1,000 students attend that conference every year, and all of them go on scholarships. As a student, you don't go unless you're on a scholarship. The opportunity is incredible, but getting students connected to these resources and finding the funding to support them is the ongoing challenge. I volunteer my time as an advisor for SkillsUSA, WiCyS and other organizations because I believe in helping our students and faculty succeed.

The most important values to me are helping others achieve their educational goals and making a difference in my community. I'm very passionate about my role as Vice President of the South Carolina Chapter of Women in Cybersecurity and my volunteer work, including advising for SkillsUSA and doing volunteer work at Convent Baptist Church. Even though I don't get paid, I continue because I love it and it benefits our students and faculty. In my personal life, I love spending time with my family, especially since my parents are in their 80s and I'm very blessed to have them. I also enjoy traveling and reading a good book. Being a first-generation college graduate drives my commitment to helping others start a new generation of education in their families, just like I did for my daughter, who is now a pharmacist. I am blessed with a husband that supports my drive and dedication.