New America and #ShareTheMicInCyber Announce Inaugural Class of Fellows

Washington, D.C. — Today, New America in partnership with #ShareTheMicInCyber announced its inaugural class of #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellows.

The #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship is intended to support professionals from traditionally underrepresented communities in the field of cybersecurity, elevating their voices and aiding in their research and professional development. Throughout the course of their fellowship year, fellows will undertake original policy research and analysis, identify and analyze critical cybersecurity issues, and create new projects to advance the field. Fellows will also receive a stipend to support their work, and gain access to networking, mentorship, and partnership opportunities.

After receiving almost 80 applicants, seven talented individuals were selected who will pursue a variety of research and impact projects. These projects include exploring the cost of cyberattacks on Black communities, the spyware industry’s influence on civil society, the impact of artificial intelligence on social engineering, and benchmarking human cybersecurity risk.

“It is exciting to see this vision come to fruition. But we are even more excited to see the results of what these immensely talented fellows will be working on in the year ahead,” said Peter W. Singer, Strategist and Senior Fellow at New America and Co-Coordinator of the #ShareTheMicInCyber partnership.

“With the announcement of our inaugural #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship cohort at New America, our vision has become reality,” said Lauren Zabierek, Co-Founder of #ShareTheMicInCyber. “We are excited to welcome the fellows and work with them over the upcoming year to bring their big ideas in cybersecurity to life and maximize their impact in the field. We are incredibly grateful to our funders for their support.”

“We are thrilled to see the manifestation of the first #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship at New America,” said Christina Morillo, Advisor, #ShareTheMicInCyber. “This next year will bring lots of progress and transformation as we watch these fellows use their talent and skills to build and impact the cybersecurity field for years to come. We extend our gratitude towards those who made this possible — from our generous funders to everyone involved.”

The Inaugural Class of #STMIC Fellows:

Sarah Aoun is a privacy and security researcher, working at the intersection of technology and social justice. Her work primarily focuses on providing privacy and security for vulnerable populations around the world.

Most recently, she was the chief transformation officer (CTO) and vice president of security at the Open Technology Fund, an organization that funds projects and technology focused on countering censorship and surveillance. She led the organization’s efforts to identify and track emerging threats, and to advance the field of information security for journalists, human rights defenders, and high risk individuals.

Sarah has worked as an independent operational security and counter surveillance trainer, and has trained countless activists, journalists, and high-risk individuals. She has served as a cybersecurity consultant for dozens of U.S. and international NGOs, helping them implement strategic and operational oversight for information security management, minimizing risks, and establishing stronger safety norms.

During her fellowship, she will be conducting research on the spyware industry’s impact on civil society and the human rights field.

Michael Garcia is a senior policy advisor for the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) where he develops and supports interagency cybersecurity policies. Prior to joining CISA, Michael was a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he worked on the Cyber Incident Reporting for the Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 and other cybersecurity legislation. Before working for the Senate, Michael held several other cyber policy positions, including working at Third Way as a senior policy advisor for their Cyber Enforcement Initiative, serving as director for external engagement and outreach for the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and advising governors’ offices on cybersecurity policy issues at the National Governors Association. Michael was a 2020 fellow for New America and the Global Public Policy Institute's Transatlantic Digital Debate and a 2021 Next Gen National Security Fellow for the Center for New American Security. His work has been published and quoted by Politico, Lawfare, The Hill, Just Security, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Michael will uncover the cybersecurity challenges that may arise from the increasing adoption of AR/VR applications such as data privacy concerns; virtual currency theft; digital identity management; and other cybersecurity areas. Michael will also delve into Chinese companies’ investment in AR/VR applications, software, and hardware, and how their involvement in this budding market may impact U.S. national security.

Roshawn Marcell Valentino Terrell conducts interdisciplinary research, primarily focused on the emergence of intelligence in the universe and its connection with entropy maximization. Roshawn also works as a machine intelligence research scientist for the company Vectorspace AI/Biosciences and initiated and led a research effort between Vectorspace AI and CERN with the goal of utilizing AI to enhance particle discovery, and further our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Roshawn will be researching a new emerging phenomena called Automated Zersetzung, the implications it has on our society, and how to empower people in a world with this new disrupting technology, to overcome manipulation from governments, institutions and corporations.

Safi Mojidi is a socially-motivated thought leader, doctoral candidate, and cybersecurity expert with 15 years of experience who wants to make a difference in the world. He currently serves as the head of information security at FOLX Health. His approach to operational security combines strategic cyber vision and risk transparency to protect the privacy of data for LGBTQIA+ people who want life-affirming healthcare that is also culturally competent. Safi has designed, implemented, and led data security and privacy programs for Slack, Salesforce, NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Office of the Vice President.

As a member of the 2022 LGBTQIA+ Out in National Security Leadership and New Voices List, Safi’s research benchmarks the cyber readiness of minority communities to protect their data privacy and security while using internet-connected devices. Safi intuitively knows that security is a key part of building confidence and trust in information systems for their users. As the founder of a non-profit, Hacking the Workforce, his organization aims to increase the visibility and retention of Black LGBTQIA+ professionals through partnerships, resource sharing, financial literacy education, and scholarships to support cybersecurity training and workforce development opportunities.

Thomas Rowland was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawai’i, before enlisting in the Marines. He split his enlisted time between sunny 29 Palms, CA, and sunny Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Thomas has served as a junior researcher for Swords to Plowshares, a veterans non-profit focused on military justice, education and housing equity. Thomas will use his experience as a researcher and advocate for vulnerable populations in his cybersecurity research project. The effects of racial inequity and COVID-19 leave the Black community lacking the ability to detect, respond and recover from cyber threats. His research paper will examine how cyber threats from cyber criminal and state-nexus actors affect the Black community, ranging from fraud, malware and cyber-attacks to information operations.

Steffanie AK Schilling is a senior cyber consultant for Ernst & Young, where she specializes in Human Cyber Risk, Cultural Transformation, and Cyber Resiliency. She has won the SANS Institute’s Difference Maker and Innovator award for her unique sociological theory and best cyber practices. Steffanie is viewed as an interculturally responsive and transformative leader, sitting on the board for the SANS Security Awareness conference and serving her second term as the youngest ever VP of InfraGard NEO, a partnership between public and private critical infrastructure to increase national security. Her research aims to establish a baseline of cyber literacy and resiliency in the United States. Steffanie’s research will ultimately provide insight into how to reduce human cyber risk—an attack vector present in the majority of successful breaches—and also educate and motivate the American people to embrace cyber safety in their everyday lives.

Lili Timmermann is a Princeton and Yale Law School-educated litigator based in Palm Beach, Florida. She started her legal career as an Attorney General's Honors Attorney in the Department of Justice's National Security Division, representing the United States in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to counter malicious foreign cyber actors. In private practice, Lili's representations have ranged from protecting voter's rights to helping major global technology companies navigate complex compliance matters. She is now of counsel at Perry Guha, an elite litigation boutique, handling both criminal and civil matters for companies, high-net-worth individuals, and indigent clients, alike. She has spent most of her career in public service, earning a masters from Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs and working at the U.S. Department of State, the White House, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai'i and U.S. embassies in Beijing and Rangoon. Lili is a native Spanish speaker who also speaks Mandarin, Portuguese, and Tetum.

Lili's #STMIC Fellowship research will examine the developing body of case law that affects the cybersecurity legal landscape, focusing on the impact of cybersecurity-related privacy litigation. Relying on her experience working at the intersection of cybersecurity and litigation, Lili's research aims to provide sophisticated analysis of the rapidly evolving field while increasing awareness of cybersecurity issues among practicing attorneys.

Learn more about the fellowship here.

New America and #ShareTheMicInCyber thank Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Google, Schmidt Futures, Twitter, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for their generous support.

Press Contact: Tara Moulson (moulson@newamerica.org)