Resilient and Relentless: 60-Year-Old 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Grad Redefines What鈥檚 Possible
Most people don鈥檛 start a new career in their 50s, much less in one of the fastest-evolving fields in the world. But Slynn McMinn isn鈥檛 most people.
The 60-year-old Christiansburg, Virginia, resident will soon graduate from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a Master of Science in information science, a milestone in a journey marked by resilience, reinvention, and relentless dedication.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 set out to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in information science; it was a journey shaped by unexpected opportunities,鈥� said McMinn, who originally hails from Valdosta, Georgia.
For most of her career, McMinn taught special education and deaf education.
鈥淚 loved both populations deeply,鈥� she said.
However, in 2019, her resume unexpectedly landed on the desk of a CTE (Career and Technical Education) director in Virginia, and she was later offered a role teaching cybersecurity, despite her lack of formal experience in the field. Initially, she thought it was a mistake.
鈥淭hough I had IT experience from my own publishing company and some recent certifications, my teaching experience was in Special/Deaf Education,鈥� she said, adding that the CTE director 鈥渁ssured me I was the right person for the job and encouraged me to try. His faith in me became my mantra to pay it forward.鈥�
McMinn stepped into the role, teaching cybersecurity at Christiansburg High School. In 2021, she learned about the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) -鈥� a graduate certificate program in cybersecurity education for high school teachers, offered virtually through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, DePaul University, and the University of Louisville. She applied and joined the inaugural class in Summer 2022.
鈥淭oward the end of the program, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock offered us the chance to continue into the master鈥檚 program,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 applied, was accepted, and earned a Master of Science in information science, along with graduate certificates in data science and the NCTA.鈥�
Her path wasn鈥檛 easy. McMinn has juggled three teaching jobs鈥攁t Christiansburg High, Tennessee Online Public School, and Cornerstone Classical Academy鈥攚hile running her own Christian publishing company. She has also cared for her sick husband. After several hospitalizations and a misdiagnosis, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia – the same disorder affecting actor Bruce Willis.
鈥淭his diagnosis was both a relief and the beginning of a new, challenging journey,鈥� McMinn said. 鈥淎s his sole caregiver, I have had to navigate this while managing four jobs and my master鈥檚 studies.鈥�
Still, she persisted.
鈥淭here were times I considered giving up, but the encouragement from (Director of Cybersecurity Education and Outreach) Sandra Leiterman and (computer science instructor) Gin Jadav, along with the patience and support of my professors, kept me going,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir support has been invaluable. I have had the most supportive, patient, and understanding professors that I鈥檝e ever encountered.鈥�
Leiterman said McMinn has shown exceptional dedication to her education and to supporting others despite life鈥檚 challenges.
鈥淭hroughout it all, she remained committed not only to her own success but also to mentoring and assisting fellow NCTA students, offering guidance and encouragement when they needed it most,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淗er persistence, professionalism, and generosity make her a standout in the program.鈥�
McMinn鈥檚 thesis focused on 鈥淚ncorporation of AI Into the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum,鈥� developing three progressive, semester-long courses and a rationale for integrating artificial intelligence into high school instruction. The project included a detailed instructional design, comprehensive outlines, lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
After graduation, McMinn plans to continue teaching at all three schools, running her business, and caring for her husband. She is even considering applying for another part-time teaching position online.
鈥淚 strive for my passion for this field to be contagious, and I strive to inspire students, especially those who think they can鈥檛 succeed in IT,鈥� she said. 鈥淲itnessing students who believe they 鈥榗an鈥檛 do IT’ earn certifications and develop new skills is deeply rewarding.鈥�
McMinn is grateful that she鈥檚 been able to face and overcome many challenges and take part in a transformative experience.
“As a non-traditional student 鈥� finishing my master鈥檚 at 60 and as a woman in a male-dominated IT field 鈥� my greatest achievement has been persevering through the challenges,鈥� McMinn said. 鈥淏alancing a full-time job, two part-time jobs, running a business, taking master鈥檚 classes, being a sole caregiver, and managing ADHD and dyslexia, all required immense determination and support from my faith, encouragers, and the opportunities I was given. This experience has been humbling and is a milestone I cherish.”
She said Leiterman, Jadav, and Dr. Phillip Huff (associate professor) have been lifelines throughout her journey.
鈥淚 deeply admire their knowledge, patience, and passion for the field. Their encouragement has been a guiding light for me.鈥�
For McMinn, teaching cybersecurity is more than a career鈥攊t鈥檚 a calling.
鈥淚 look forward to walking into my classroom every day. I honestly love teaching these high school students in this field, watching their growth and passion get ignited, and seeing them develop their careers in the field after graduation,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is the filling in a hole that I didn鈥檛 even know that I had.鈥�