On Sept. 19, 350 students gathered at Cal State San Bernardino’s Santos Manuel Student Union South Event Center for the Tech & Cybersecurity Fair. Organized by the Center for Cyber & AI and the Career Center, the fair brought together students and industry leaders from the tech and cybersecurity sectors, including the CIA, U.S. Department of Defense and Esri.

From noon to 3 p.m., attendees networked with top employers from the Inland Empire and beyond who had available internships, as well as part-time and full-time positions. Students showcased their skills, built professional connections, and learned more about career paths in these high-demand fields. The fair provided a valuable opportunity for students of all academic levels – from first-year undergraduates to doctoral candidates – to make meaningful connections and practice their networking and interviewing skills in a live, professional setting.

Cristina Ruiz, the event coordinator from the CSUSB Career Center, explained the motivation behind the fair: “This event was a collaborative effort between the Career Center, Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, and the College of Natural Sciences. Although it was more niche, it was open to all CSUSB students. I took in a lot of feedback from students who indicated there weren't many opportunities like this on campus for these particular fields. That's how this came about.

"I couldn't have done it without Valentina Felix, who helped with student outreach, among other things," Ruiz said. She indicated that Felix’ efforts played a crucial role in ensuring students from across campus were informed and ready to take advantage of the fair.

On Sept. 19, 350 students attended the Tech & Cybersecurity Fair, held at the Santos Manuel Student Union South Event Center.
On Sept. 19, 350 students attended the Tech & Cybersecurity Fair, held at the Santos Manuel Student Union South Event Center.

The event drew widespread interest, particularly from those with an eye on major employers, such as the U.S. Department of Defense and Esri, the Redlands-based company that is the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence and mapping.

Senior computer science major Viri Delgado, who was determined to meet with the Esri recruiter, shared, "I researched the companies who would be at this fair ahead of time. I was interested in Esri, and I waited an hour to talk to the recruiter. It was worth it."

For others, the fair opened up new perspectives on potential careers. Junior cybersecurity major Frankie Vasquez reflected on his experience: "The fair was really cool. It was an eye-opening opportunity. It gave me insight into what employers are looking for and what jobs are out there."

The Tech & Cybersecurity Fair, while focused on specific sectors, was open to all CSUSB students, making it a unique chance for those looking to break into tech or cybersecurity to gain real-world insights. With a robust turnout and enthusiastic participation, the fair underscored CSUSB’s commitment to providing students with the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market.