On Friday, March 22, the School of Public Affairs hosted the seventh annual Women in Homeland Security Panel. Organized by SPA’s Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy Program, and the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology (which sponsored a networking reception after the panel). The event allowed attendees to hear from three homeland security professionals within various components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and at different stages in their careers. One panelist serves as an entry-level analyst, another a mid-career professional, and the third is a member of the Senior Executive Service.

Each panelist, with their different experiences and areas of expertise, provided valuable insight into their lives and careers, and offered advice for aspiring homeland security professionals. This year’s event was organized by graduate students Tatyana Prepsel and Elizabeth Gay, who also served as the chair. As a newly admitted student in the program, I was thrilled to attend and participate in this event. I am pursuing a career in the field of counterterrorism and homeland security and appreciated the opportunity to have this candid conversation with these women. They spoke about their involvement in a highly competitive environment and one in which men tend to be overrepresented.

Further, they all described their first jobs and traced their paths to their current positions. Sometimes, the jobs you take may differ from how you envisioned them when starting. The panelists encouraged perseverance and hard work, which is the key to success in the enterprise.

The Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy Studies Program at American University has grown steadily. Females now make up 40 percent of the student population. This is an incredible statistic, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this esteemed program. It also reinforces the value of this event not only for me but for future students interested in our program. The insight from the panelists was informative and encouraging for me personally. Through their perspectives and advice, pursuing a career in DHS and National Security now seems more realistic, exciting, and fulfilling than ever. Each woman on the panel has achieved remarkable goals and recognition within their respective teams, whether through US port protections, technology analysis, or international relations. They have made a positive impact on the job while also paving the way for me and others in the THSP program to follow in their footsteps. Events like this are just one more reason I am proud of my decision to pursue a Master's in Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy at American University.