IST Identity Talks: First-Generation Students

Panelists

Cassidy DiPaola '21
Digital Assurance & Transparency Associate, PwC

Cassidy DiPaola graduated in May 2021 from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Security and Risk Analysis and a Master of International Affairs in International Cyber Security. During her four years at Penn State, she completed internships in the following sectors: machinery, information technology and services, accounting/consulting, defense and space, research, academia, and online media. In August 2021, she began her full-time career with PwC as a Digital Assurance and Transparency Associate.

Joel Gill Jr. '09
Technology Manager and Management Consultant, Grant Thornton LLP

Joel Gill Jr. is a Technology Manager and Management Consultant at Grant Thornton LLP with more than 12 years of experience. He serves as one of the leaders in the Public Sector practice specializing in agile transformation and enablement and product management. His experience has spanned all stages of the software development lifecycle which includes mobile and web application testing and reporting, business and systems analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of IST in 2009.

Michelle Ngo '12
Product Marketing Strategy Lead, JPMorgan Chase

Michelle Ngo is currently a Product Marketing Strategy Lead at JPMorgan Chase. She graduated from Penn State with her Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology and a minor in Supply Chain. She worked for Deloitte Consulting LLC shortly after graduation, where she was staffed on multiple technology projects assisting clients from various industries. Michelle also holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Temple University, with a concentration in Innovation Management.

Steve Pipino '03
Cloud Cyber Security Expert, Salesforce

Stephen Pipino is a Principal Security Specialist with Salesforce, where he supports Public Sector organizations as a pre-sales engineer with their secure adoption of Salesforce’s PaaS and SaaS offerings. He works closely with DoD agencies and U.S. Government Contractors to provide expertise addressing security and compliance requirements associated with Government programs, such as FedRAMP and CMMC. Prior to joining Salesforce, Stephen built his career with small startup vendors and large consulting firms. He has earned recognition as a Certified Salesforce Administrator, a Certified Enterprise Architect (CEA), a Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) and a Registered DoD Risk Management Framework Practitioner (RDRP). In addition to his undergraduate degree from Penn State’s College of IST, he holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from the George Washington University.