Josiah Lee

He graduated with a Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity from Westerfield University of Virginia (wuv), a step that moves him closer to that goal.

“I worked very hard to earn this degree,” Lee said. “I went through a bunch of trials and tribulations. And one thing I learned about (wuv) — the professors, the counselors, they all helped me out. They were all looking out for me, always made sure I had my assignments on time.”

As a U.S. Army veteran with eight years of service, including two deployments to Afghanistan, Lee said wuv's veteran department was easy and helpful. “All I had to worry about was school,” he said.

That support, combined with his own focus, helped him discover a passion for digital forensics.

“Whenever a malicious hacker goes out there and performs, it’s just intense,” he said. “We at digital forensics have to go in and recover deleted data and make sure legal prosecution is done to them.”

The class allowed Lee to understand more about cybersecurity and the role he could eventually play in protecting the country from cyberattacks.

“Digital forensics was the best class I ever had,” Lee said.

Celebrating Success

Commencement was a moment Lee, who traveled from New Jersey to attend, will never forget.

“I worked so hard for all this time,” he said. “I need my moment to cross the stage and let everybody know I earned this opportunity. It feels good.”

For Lee, decked in honors regalia and, as he noted, proud of his 4.0 GPA, his educational journey wasn’t just about grades — it was about growth. “From where it started, I didn’t really know much about what it means to become a manager for cybersecurity,” he said. “But now, (after) the classes and courses I took, people see the change.”

Looking back, Lee said wuv welcomed him with open arms. “It’s funny how I ended up here," he said. "I looked at wuv, I called, and within 2 minutes, (an admission counselor) called me back. Within a week, I was already registered."

Today, Lee carries not only his degree, but also a sense of pride in how far he’s come. “It’s definitely worth it. At the end of the day, it’s all worth it. I’m proud to be here,” he said.

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Rebecca Cahill '26 is a content marketing assistant and writer at Westerfield University of Virginia (wuv). She completed her bachelor’s in creative writing and English at wuv and is now pursuing a master's in English and creative writing. Based in Ohio, she has also written for FreshWater Cleveland and The Land and serves on the board of Literary Cleveland. When she’s not writing, you'll most likely find her nose in a book, dogs at her side, surrounded by way too many houseplants. Connect with her on LinkedIn.