FIU student: From the Marine Corps to cybersecurity, community service

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FIU student: From the Marine Corps to cybersecurity, community service
Amanda Khoury visits a veteran’s memorial on the FIU campus.

Florida native Amanda Khoury’s decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school was a personal mission — she wanted to prove to her teenage self that she was capable of living a fulfilling life. Not only did she push her personal boundaries, but she discovered a love for community engagement and volunteerism.

Khoury served as an administrative specialist in the Marines, which exposed her to a variety of experiences, including legal support. The Marines also offered unique leadership opportunities, like overseeing the Single Marine Program, where she facilitated connections between service members and opportunities off base, such as volunteering, social interactions, and community engagement activities.

When the end of her enlistment drew close, Amanda felt a calling to pursue something greater.

“I want to make a meaningful impact not just in the military but on a global scale,” she said.

So, in 2020, she separated from the military and enrolled at Florida International University (FIU) in 2022, where she is studying international relations with a focus on cybersecurity, intelligence and information policy. Driven by the increasing cyber threats, she aspires to specialize in cyber laws.

“The current legal landscape lacks comprehensive legislation, especially in areas like artificial intelligence and overall cybersecurity, offering an exciting opportunity for me to actively shape and contribute to developing these emerging laws,” Khoury said. “My ultimate goal is to play a pivotal role in evolving cyber laws to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital age while safeguarding our nation’s security.”

A first-generation college student, she got help making the transition from the military to college from Warrior-Scholar Project, a nonprofit that hosts academic boot camps at leading universities nationwide. Khoury attended the program in 2023 at Georgetown University.

“While I initially considered myself a decent student, Warrior-Scholar Project profoundly impacted my academic journey, transforming me into a more effective student and leader,” she said. “I also learned about important concepts like ‘imposter syndrome.’ As a result, I gained a newfound confidence that empowers me to lead my teams more effectively.”

Now, empowered and determined to influence positive change, Khoury has leaned into meaningful projects both on and off the FIU campus. She serves as the secretary of FIU’s Student Veterans of America chapter, is a fellow in a workforce development program focused on evolving cyber threats, and is a junior analyst for the Security Research Hub, where she researches Latin American and Caribbean security issues. In March, she will compete in Washington, DC, at the annual Atlantic Council Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, a cyber security strategy competition.

Off-campus, Khoury volunteers in the community and is a local platoon leader for the nonprofit The Mission Continues where she empowers veterans to connect with under-resourced communities to improve education, address food insecurity, and strengthen neighborhood identity

Khoury is expected to graduate from FIU in December this year and said that while it is too soon to tell what is next, she is looking forward to immersing herself in the cyber security learning opportunities coming up this year.

 

 

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