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Graduate Spotlight: Allen builds a cybersecurity future with passion for computing

Kim Chaudoin  | 

Jeffrey Allen

For as long as Jeffrey Allen can remember, he has had a fascination with computers.

Now, Allen, who graduated from Lipscomb University in December with a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity, is turning that lifelong interest into a promising career.

“I always found myself around computers growing up,” Allen recalls. “I was always interested in learning more about them. I remember getting to build my own PC and having as much fun building the actual computer as I did using it. I loved to nerd out to people about the latest hardware and their own personal builds.”

After high school, Allen got his first job in information technology as a data technician. He found the work challenging, but it proved a valuable experience where he increased his skill and knowledge and where his passion for pursuing a career in the field was ignited.

“One of the things I really like about computing is the fact that you never really stop learning in this field. For some, I could see this being a negative trait to the career as there's always new things you need to keep up to date on, and to a lot of people, they think that the things you're learning now will be obsolete in 10-20 years,” he explains. “To some extent, that's true, but to me, that's the fun part about it. The fundamentals don’t change, and there’s always something new to discover and master. It's really a career that's all about researching and being able to problem solve, not something you can ever really 'master' in a sense.”

Lipscomb stood out for its opportunities, and it has provided me with great learning and networking opportunities as well as a lot of friends along the way. — Jeffrey Allen

Originally from Tustin, California, Allen has called Nashville home since 2006. His path to Lipscomb was unexpected. After working several years, he earned a technical certification in computer networking from Columbia State Community College. But, he hadn’t planned on pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

“But my teacher at Columbia State encouraged me to consider it,” Allen explains. “Lipscomb stood out for its opportunities, and it has provided me with great learning and networking opportunities as well as a lot of friends along the way. (Faculty) Steve Nordstrom, Susan Hammond, Ken Mayer, Rob Touchstone and Chris Simmons, just to name a few, have been more than just my teachers. They have been great mentors and friends, and they have all encouraged me and helped me in my journey.”

During his time at Lipscomb, Allen became deeply involved in the Cyber Defense Club, for which he served as president. The club focuses on preparing for the annual Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), where teams representing colleges across the country compete to defend a simulated business from cyberattacks.

“My role as president has been about building our team, strategizing and teaching where I can,” Allen says. “Cyber defense isn’t about one person knowing everything—it’s about learning from each other and growing together. Seeing my team members excel in areas beyond my own expertise has been so inspiring. It goes to show just how important teamwork is in a competition setting like CCDC.”

Allen has also focused on documenting strategies and passing on knowledge from graduating members to help future participants succeed.

“We've had excellent students come and go, and it's always hard when some of the best guys and gals graduate and are no longer competing,” he says. “My goal is for us to get better and better with each passing year and to encourage the mindset that we're all in this grow and learn together.”

Beyond his work with the club, Allen’s Lipscomb experience helped him develop crucial skills in communication, research and public speaking—abilities he says are vital in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity.

“Cybersecurity has a steep learning curve,” he said. “You’re constantly encountering new challenges, and knowing how to research is key. Your employer doesn't expect you to know everything, but they will expect you to know how to research. Lipscomb gave me the confidence to tackle the unknown and figure things out as I go.”

Allen’s academic journey was enriched by a summer internship at Formos Consulting in Brentwood, Tennessee, where he gained hands-on experience in phishing campaigns, IT support, policy and procedure writing, software creation and security consulting. He says the experience gave him an opportunity to learn about the practical side of cybersecurity.

As he prepares to enter the professional world, Allen is keeping his options open. While cybersecurity remains his focus, he is also considering roles in system administration, IT consulting and cloud security, with dreams of one day starting his own company.

— Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Allen