Back to School in Your 50s: Building Cybersecurity Expertise

Returning to school later in life can feel intimidating. For cybersecurity professional Jeff Burnett, M.S. '25, it became one of the most valuable decisions of his career. In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Jeff shares why he chose to pursue a graduate degree in cybersecurity while already established in the field. After years working in cybersecurity sales, he realized that understanding the technology behind the conversations would allow him to better serve clients and contribute more strategically. Jeff talks about what it was like stepping back into the classroom in his 50s, learning alongside younger students, and tackling technical topics outside his original background. He also shares how the experience strengthened his confidence, deepened his industry knowledge, and helped him better understand the real challenges cybersecurity teams face every day.If you are a working professional wondering whether going back to school is worth it, Jeff offers practical insight and encouragement from someone who made the leap. Learn more about UMBC’s Cybersecurity graduate program: https://professionalprograms.umbc.edu/cybersecurity/masters-of-professional-studies-cybersecurity/ #Cybersecurity #CybersecurityCareers #UMBC #GraduateSchool #LifelongLearning #CybersecurityEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment