<p> Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing career fields, with the demand for qualified professionals growing at a rate 3.5 times faster than traditional information technology or computing-related jobs and 12 times faster than the overall job market. Women are largely underrepresented in the field, comprising a mere 11% of the global workforce. This qualitative study uses a modified grounded-theory methodology to explore factors influencing women&rsquo;s perceptions of the field of cybersecurity. Interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of how female college students perceive the existing gender gap and to identify motivators or barriers of entry to the field. This study resulted in the development of a substantive theory depicting the core concept of finding her way and how women take action by seeking to relate, seeking reassurance, and seeking return. Findings from this research will be used to inform efforts to attract, train, and retain future generations of women in the cybersecurity profession and to aid in meeting the growing workforce needs. </p><p>

The next American School Initiative plans to benefit low income minorities or below average achievers to excel in career choices by following occupational clusters and job shadowing to promote careers in applied technology.