Valedictorian: Brianna Bace, BA '23

Name: Brianna Bace
Hometown: Northville, NY
Majors: Political Science, Concentration in Law and Institutions; Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity, Concentration in Homeland Security
Awards: SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence; President’s Award for Leadership: Outstanding Senior Award; The Rockefeller College Undergraduate Community Service Award; Department of Political Science Valedictorian Award; James Unger Memorial Undergraduate Award for an Outstanding Research Paper; College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity’s Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Award

What activities were you involved in during your time at UAlbany?

During my time at UAlbany, I participated in the Center for Leadership and Service’s Elevating Student Leaders Program and volunteered as a Peer Advisor at the Academic Support Center. I also served on the executive board of UAlbany’s Presidential Honors Society. Since freshman year, I have been in the Honors College and a direct-admit student into the combined BA/MPA degree program. In my senior year, I participated in the Virtual Institute of Cyber Operations and Research (VICOR) scholarship program.

What were some highlight experiences of your undergraduate career?

I have had many great experiences at UAlbany that have helped me grow as a person and as a professional. Last year, I spent a semester working full-time as a NYS Senate Session Assistant where I gained valuable work experience and learned a lot about New York’s legislative process. In my junior and senior years, I participated in the Atlantic Council’s Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. This competition gave me the opportunity to apply my cybersecurity knowledge and develop my policy analysis and presentation skills. Most importantly though, I realized from this competition that I want my future career to be related to developing cybersecurity policy. I also enjoyed any opportunity I had to present my research. Last year, I gave a poster presentation at the New York Celebration of Women in Computing conference, and this year I presented at both the UAlbany Showcase and the VICOR Research Showcase.

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

I am most proud of being selected for the New York State Senate Session Assistants program. I met so many wonderful people, learned so much about state government, and aided in the lawmaking process. I am also very proud that, based on my overall performance in the program, I was the session assistant selected for the Margaret J. Hughes Scholarship Award. Overall, this program was the most fun and fulfilling way I completed college credit during my time at UA.

What is next for you after graduation?

After graduation, I will spend the summer interning at the United States Telecom Association as a cybersecurity intern. This upcoming school year, I will finish my master’s degree in public administration, work as a research assistant, and apply to law school.