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About the Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC)
The Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC) brings together Iowa high school students (grades 10–12) to research and discuss critical topics related to broadband, Internet, and technology careers across the state. Members meet monthly to identify effective strategies for improving connectivity, gain access to specialized cybersecurity curriculum, and provide youth input that directly shapes efforts to create a more connected Iowa.
Lineup of Industry Experts
The main goal of the SYBAC program is to connect students with careers and industry leaders through valuable networking opportunities at the monthly meetings. As a key part of the meetings, Iowa's leading experts and business leaders are invited to speak. These guests share knowledge about their industries, discuss how they contribute to Iowa, and talk about their own career paths. They give helpful guidance on important abilities like working well on a team and having strong soft skills, as well as offering practical advice for job interviews and finding employment in technology.
September: ICN Executive Director Ryan Mulhall kicked off the first session of the year by providing an overview of the ICN's mission, work, and exciting goals for the coming year. He praised the students for their impressive accomplishments, including earning certifications, completing pentests, and securing internships, and urged them to continue their learning and growth. Highlighting his own career journey, and sharing that curiosity and an openness to new opportunities are key staples for all the students to keep in mind as they begin their technology path.
October: Guests included Procircular and ICN. Representatives provided essential career and security advice, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and actively networking to put oneself out there in the industry. They highlighted that success involves more than technical skill; it requires understanding the needs of the business and the people who use the networks, and then tailoring solutions to the organization. A core part of their role is identifying and communicating risk, offering clear recommendations to mitigate it. They both highlighted the shift in security threats, noting that failure to patch has surpassed phishing as a major risk due to unaddressed vulnerabilities.
November: We welcomed Matt Behrens, CIO of the State of Iowa / Iowa Department of Management, Division of Information Technology. He gave an in-depth look at Iowa's commitment to closing the digital divide, including a breakdown of the broadband coverage maps. Matt highlighted his agency's collaborative success, the crucial role of BEAD funding and grants, and how these initiatives are actively building new infrastructure across the state.
December: ISU Engineering and Cybersecurity Professor Doug Jacobson delivered an overview covering cybersecurity history, the types of adversaries, and career paths. He emphasized Iowa's cybersecurity education landscape, highlighting programs at Iowa State University and community colleges, plus opportunities for high school students through competitions and internships.
January: The ICN Director of Networking and Operations shared an inspiring career path transitioning from the military into a leadership role in cybersecurity. It was explained that the field requires constant learning—a philosophy they followed in the military and continue to practice at ICN today. The Director walked the students through ICN’s Defense in Depth strategy, which utilizes multiple layers of security and AI-powered tools to stay ahead of modern threats.
February: University of Iowa, Autonomous Vehicle Transportation, Driving Safety Research Institute
March: John Deere
April: In-person session
Back to topHighlighted SYBAC Resources
Back to topProject Status Updates
- JT - From Curiosity to Career Insight! JT sat down with Barry Griffiths, a Cybersecurity instructor at Hawkeye Community College, to pull back the curtain on the world of cyber. Here is his major takeaway from the experience: "Before I talked to Mr. Griffiths, I didn't expect anything...but after our conversation, his answers gave me a lot of insight into the cyber world and how to progress down a career path."
- Hannah - Where Public Safety Meets the Digital Frontier! Hannah interviewed her local Chief of Police to learn how a 15-year veteran of the force tackles the digital world: Digital Evidence: Tech is central to most investigations, Proactive Defense: Use VPNs and forensics to protect community data, and the Human Element: Staff education and training is vital. Thank you for bridging the gap between tech and community service and showing how these two fields work hand-in-hand to keep Iowans safe.
- Ryli - The Mission to Power Iowa! Ryli went behind the scenes at a local electric cooperative to see how cybersecurity keeps the lights on. She sat down with a local Systems Analyst to discuss how protecting our energy is a 24/7 mission. By monitoring national alerts and infrastructure agencies, the team stays on top of the latest threats to protect our state. Ryli noted how smart it is to pair high-tech tools with constant staff training to keep the network safe.