Tulane Scholar Builds IT Security Experience Through Research, Internships

For Tulane University Scholar Kai Williams, the path toward a career in IT security began with an example close to home.

Raised alongside his older brother, Kai looked to him as a role model. When his brother became a Posse Scholar at Tulane, Kai began to imagine new possibilities for his own education.

“When my brother got into Posse, it gave us new bounds of where we thought we could go to school,” says Kai.

His brother also introduced him to cybersecurity and emphasized that building a career in the field requires more than classroom learning. Certifications, hands-on experience and a commitment to continually developing new skills are also essential. That advice has guided Kai throughout his own time as a Posse Scholar at Tulane.

On campus, Kai gained practical experience through an IT internship supporting Tulane and the Newcomb Institute. He also joined the Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science as a research intern, leading projects involving multiple university departments and organizations.

This past summer, Kai expanded his professional experience through an IT audit internship in South Carolina. He credits Posse and Tulane Professor Jacquelyne Thoni Howard with helping make the opportunity possible.

Each role has allowed Kai to apply his technical knowledge, explore different areas of the field and learn from professionals across the university and beyond. As he continues preparing for a career in IT security, he is grounding that growth in the curiosity and persistence his brother encouraged.

For Kai, Posse’s value extends beyond access to individual opportunities. The relationships he has developed through the program have introduced him to new possibilities and helped him recognize how much can be learned from the people around him.

“Posse puts me in rooms with people who opened doors for me, and every conversation on campus has taught me something new,” says Kai.