Mackenzie Freel was drawn to technology at an early age.
As an only child, computers were both a source of entertainment and a way to explore the world independently. What she didn鈥檛 realize at the time was how much the lack of visible women in tech shaped her perception of the field.
鈥淚f I鈥檇 seen more women in tech growing up, I think I would鈥檝e recognized much earlier that this wasn鈥檛 just a hobby or something I enjoyed; it could be a real, fulfilling career,鈥� she said.
Choosing USF
While visiting colleges, she fell in love with the 91社区. She knew immediately that it was a good fit. A week after her acceptance, she had her housing paperwork turned in. Freel moved into the residence halls and started exploring the university鈥檚 student organizations.
Although she was certain of her choice of a university, it wasn鈥檛 until she found the Women in Cybersecurity club her freshman year that she was confident of the focus of her academic career.
USF鈥檚 Women in Cybersecurity chapter (WiCyS USF) is a student-led organization dedicated to reducing the gender gap in the field. The chapter helped expand the sense of community she was looking for, and it provided access to mentors, something she didn鈥檛 realize (yet) that she craved.
鈥淭hat was when it really clicked for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 knew I was in the right major. I loved what I was doing, and I鈥檇 found a community where I could grow.鈥�
Freel鈥檚 interest in technology blended naturally with her desire to help people, further shaping her passion for cybersecurity.
鈥淎fter exploring the different paths within computing, cybersecurity stood out,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t focuses on protecting and supporting people, and empathy has really been a driving force for me. While I might not know exactly who I鈥檓 helping, I can imagine the users of the systems I鈥檓 protecting.鈥�
Expanding possibilities
As she became more involved, Freel鈥檚 role evolved from treasurer to president, and the group has grown to more than 250 members and received the 2025 Outstanding Student Organization Award.
鈥淭he direction we鈥檝e taken as Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) USF is to focus more on professional development and soft skills, like leadership and communication,鈥� she said.
Outside of WiCyS USF, Freel also began working as a curriculum developer with CodeBreakHERS, a cybersecurity camp for students between eighth and 12th grade at USF. She developed hands-on labs in cryptography, networking, and forensics that made cybersecurity concepts accessible and fun.
鈥淚 was all-in on getting women exposed to cybersecurity and helping them find their pathways,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved creating activities that made the field approachable and engaging for students.鈥�
Last summer, Freel鈥檚 work helped lead her to an internship with CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity company that provides cloud-native endpoint security, threat intelligence and incident response services.
鈥淚t was an incredible experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing immersed in a company that focuses entirely on cybersecurity allowed me to explore different specialties and start narrowing down where I might want to focus in the future.鈥�
As she moves forward, Freel is exploring internship opportunities with companies like Capital One, Vanguard and CrowdStrike to continue developing her skills.
鈥淚鈥檓 still very much in an exploratory phase,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are so many possibilities, and right now I鈥檓 researching and evaluating what might be the best fit.鈥�
Freel says the Bellini College gave her the confidence to lead and the community to thrive. Now, she鈥檚 determined to help other women find that same sense of belonging in cybersecurity. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what keeps me motivated 鈥� knowing that every woman who joins this field makes it stronger,鈥� she said.