Rizi Mohammed: Protecting Society’s Most Vulnerable with Cybersecurity

Attending college as a single mother requires a lot of motivation, skills, and hard work. Yet the payoff can be economically and personally satisfying. That’s what one student, Rizikatu (Rizi) N. Mohammed, found at Bellevue College.  

Mohammed initially went to Bellevue College to receive her an associate degree in information technology (IT). But, instead, she discovered her passion for cybersecurity. 

“I’m passionate about cybersecurity because it gives me the ability to protect people’s data and our businesses from cyber threats,” she said. “To me, cybersecurity isn’t just a career, it’s a way of protecting the most vulnerable in our society.” 

While participating in the STEM to Stern program at Bellevue College, Mohammed was introduced to the college’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity. STEM to Stern, accelerates the growth of students in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. The program is a supportive learning community and a powerful resource where students both learn skills and make connections. 

 “The cybersecurity Bachelor of Applied Science program fulfilled my hopes and expectations,” Mohammed said, “The small class sizes, strong relationships with professors, and supportive community made it the ideal environment for my growth.” 

Her skills, education and enthusiasm then led to a number of high-profile internships and opportunities. First, she worked at NASA, as part of the Community College Aerospace Scholars program, on the Artemis project. This project has the goal of sending the first woman and women of color to Mars. Later, she joined Betacom 5G Network as an intern, learning networking, troubleshooting, and security skills. 

Finally, she applied for several internships for the summer of 2025. She was offered four of them. Now, she is working at Amazon as a Security Engineer Intern.  

“I’m beyond excited to join Amazon’s Application Security (AppSec) team, focusing on Generative AI Security,“ she said. “In a time when AI is rapidly transforming the world, having the opportunity to contribute to security in this space is more than just a role. It’s a dream come true.” 
 
One of the factors Mohammed identified as key to her success in this field is that most professors in Bellevue College’s Cybersecurity program are practicing professionals, who can identify new tools and methods, and provide hands-on experience using them. She also identified additional supports that Bellevue College offers, including childcare, scholarships and mentors. 

But it’s her internal motivation that ensures her continued success. In addition to her required classes, Mohammed earned certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and AWS Cloud Practitioner, and is working on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Solutions Architect certification. A consummate networker, she has also been actively involved in the organization Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS).  

“Last year, I was awarded a scholarship to attend the WiCyS conference in Dallas in April 2025,” she said. 

All of this is in addition to her work study job at Bellevue College’s Center for Career Connections. There, she gained skills in communication, teamwork, and customer service, while also getting some practice and expert consultations in resume writing and interviewing.  

“As a woman in a male-dominated field, I understand the importance of representation and mentorship,” Mohammed said. “The support from my professors, mentors, and professional networks has been crucial to my growth. Balancing academics, internships, and my role as a single mother has been challenging, but it has strengthened my resilience and determination. I am committed to securing digital environments, breaking down barriers, and contributing to a more inclusive future in cybersecurity.” 

Mohammed has shown that she’ll keep on dreaming, and then make those dreams come true.