Government graduate awarded grant to conduct cybersecurity research in Ireland

Less than two weeks after participating in Liberty University’s largest Commencement to date, Lindsey Allen, a graduate of Helms School of Government, will board a plane and embark on a trip to Ireland for what she describes as “an opportunity from God” — a journey that blends academic pursuit with a strong spiritual purpose.

Allen earned a Bachelor’s degree in national security studies with minors in politics and policy, strategic intelligence, and international relations. In January, earlier this semester, she was awarded a Provost Award for Research Excellence to work with Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork, Ireland, and a think tank called Cyber Ireland, where she will be researching cybersecurity vulnerabilities in medical and pharmaceutical supply chains and testing sample devices.

Cybersecurity is a newfound interest for Allen, and with Ireland as the second biggest exporter of medical devices and pharmaceutical equipment in Europe, this will be an opportunity for her to combine her degree with this unexpected passion.

“This is an opportunity only God could have opened,” she said. “I’m praying, ‘God, just send me there and help me be a saint and glorify you.’ I’m excited to see the spiritual mission God has for me. … I do see this as kind of an adventure with God and how He’s going to use me both spiritually and academically.”

After having frequently traveled to Washington, D.C., on Liberty-sponsored trips to different embassies and completing an internship with the Heritage Foundation — a leading conservative think tank based in the capital — Allen said she originally envisioned a future in the high-energy world of national politics. She fully expected her degree to lead her into a fast-paced career in the heart of D.C. But God slowly directed her toward another path.

“I’ve visited D.C. several times, and I kind of planned my life around that,” she said. “And then when I visited Ireland (last year), I saw how present their culture is and how people-oriented it was. I feel like the goals I had didn’t line up with my values of building relationships with people and having a community.”

Allen was unsure about applying for the grant at first, because of the intensity of the application process and doubts about whether Ireland was part of God’s plan — not her own desire. When she finally decided to apply, she had faith that God would either close or open that door.

She submitted her application in December and was notified of the award a month later. She said this opportunity would not have been possible without her professors at the Helms School of Government and guidance from Associate Professor of Government and Scholar Liaison Edna Udobong.

“Professor Udobong was very helpful and encouraging, going out of her way to give me feedback on my application and answer any questions that I would have,” Allen said. “It’s something that I’m very grateful for. The professors at Liberty just really care about the students, and they want to see us succeed.”

Following her three months in Ireland, Allen plans to remain in Ireland for a year and pursue full-time employment on a work VISA before enrolling in a Master’s program abroad.

Allen said the experiences she had at Liberty prepared her well. Over her four years on campus, she threw herself into the robust ecosystem at the Helms School of Government, participating in a variety of extracurriculars like the Liberty University Analytical Support Initiative (LASI), which partners with federal agencies such as the National Security Agency, FBI, NATO, and others, to give students research exposure in immigration policy, terrorist threats, energy infrastructure, and more.

In addition to serving as a teacher’s assistant for Associate Professor of Government Scott Roenicke, who worked at the Pentagon for three decades, Allen also participated in Liberty’s Strategic Intelligence & Foreign Affairs Initiative (SIFA), which helps students develop open-source intelligence collection, analysis, and presentation experience critical for future careers in public policy and intelligence fields.

“This just goes to show there are so many opportunities through Liberty,” she said. “I feel like that’s half the experience at the School of Government, getting involved with all the clubs and field trips and (other) opportunities. It’s so meaningful, and it’s mostly been outside of the classroom.”

Even though she couldn’t fully grasp what God had in store when she first declared her major, her time at Liberty slowly shaped her desire to use international relations and cybersecurity to combat evil. She studied for a cybersecurity certification, recognized by the Department of Defense, and passed after one month of diligent study. This gives her the appropriate credentials to work in an entry-level cybersecurity position within the federal government and across the globe.

“There will always be opportunities to combat evil,” she said. “And I feel like this degree helps prepare you for that. Any field that you go into, you can apply what you’ve learned. It doesn’t just have to be like the basic D.C. Capitol Hill track.

“Even though I’m not going to use my government major in the ways that I thought I would, I wouldn’t change my classes or my degree for the world,” she added. “I feel like it’s given me so much critical thinking and communication skills. God has blessed me so much through this Christian community and through the friendships I’ve made.”