Within the United States, the Hispanic and Latine community’s involvement within various sectors of the workforce has grown significantly. As one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country, Hispanic and Latine innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals have contributed to advancements in STEM fields, especially in technology and cybersecurity.
The efforts to diversify the field by bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusion have shown positive results. From software development and cybersecurity to tech startups, their contributions have driven economic growth, while efforts to increase representation in tech have inspired future generations.
This can be seen by a 2024 report by Excelencia in Education, which states that Hispanics and Latines are going to college, now more than ever, within the U.S. This growth not only amplifies cultural diversity but also plays a critical role in shaping the future of technology.
Boise State University’s cyber operations and resilience program recognizes their faculty member, Fulcanelli “Fuli” Chavez, as one of those leaders and inspirations in shaping the future of technology and cybersecurity.
Chavez’s early years
Chavez was born in the U.S. to hardworking Mexican parents — his father, an electrical engineer, and his mother, a legal secretary. He spent his early childhood living with his family in Mexico. Some of his early childhood memories include the time when his family decided to move to a small town in Mexico, called Texcaltitlán.
“We moved from Aguascalientes, which was a bigger city in Mexico, where my dad was working as an electrical engineer. My dad got burnt out and decided to move us to Texcaltitlán,” Chavez said. “When we got there, there was no running water, no electricity and the hacienda was torn down. I got to learn how to dig post holes, how to shovel, how to plow with an ox, how to lay brick and cut grass with a machete. I was six or seven — I enjoyed these things.”
Eventually, Chavez’s family moved to the U.S. when he was eight years old. Because Mexico and the U.S. do not have a mutual agreement that allows some professions, like electrical engineers, to transfer their licenses, qualifications and experiences, Chavez’s parents were unable to transfer professions when they moved.
Earning an education
With this humbling transition, Chavez eventually graduated high school and was admitted to the University of Washington, where he worked towards a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering with a focus on chemical engineering and material sciences.
He was also granted some help with assistance programs. One of these programs was the NASA Space Grant, for which he was awarded one of two four-year full-ride scholarships at the University of Washington in 1993. He was tremendously helped in mentorship, encouragement and academic support by the university’s Minority Science and Engineering Program. He was then offered an undergraduate research assistant position in the chemical engineering department that transitioned into a sponsored graduate research assistant position for his master’s studies.
Although Chavez and his family struggled to move to the U.S. and hindered his parent’s abilities to excel in their natural trades, their work ethics and perseverance eventually led them toward success. With Chavez, it helped him continue pursuing challenges, which ultimately led him toward cybersecurity.
The call to cybersecurity
Many people transitioning to a career in cybersecurity, especially those coming from IT, often mention being drawn to the field because they enjoy the challenge. That is what happened to Chavez. During his master’s program, he worked in IT support for a lab, initially treating it more as a hobby. However, after graduating, he decided to turn that hobby into a profession.
As his IT experience grew, he saw the challenge and need for cybersecurity. “I think it was a natural process. After all the experiences I had, it was the next challenge,” he said.
What set Chavez’s journey apart was that he pursued a career in cybersecurity before the field even had a name. “Back then, IT and information security degrees weren’t even being thought of. Before cybersecurity was coined, it was often just called information security and there was not really a brand yet. So it was still all part of IT.”
Although he had degrees in engineering, Chavez was able to transfer some of the knowledge and skills he learned towards his career in cybersecurity.
“One of my instructors said that chemical engineering is more focused on systems engineering. It is applicable to chemical processes but it really focuses on how the integration of different technologies and different solutions really work with one another. Going back, that is the framework that I used when I went into IT. Coming from the engineering side of things, I always think ‘How can I make things more practical? How can I come up with a solution that makes improvements over time?’”
From his childhood to the present day, Chavez has overcome hurdles and disadvantages and found success in cybersecurity. Throughout the years, Chavez has worked as a teacher assistant, research assistant, food processing quality assurance technician, karate instructor, IT admin, post-secondary instructor, program chair for post-secondary education programs and information security engineer in a variety of disciplines.
However, Chavez’s first job after his graduate program was teaching IT at a vocational college. Teaching IT allowed him to really immerse himself in the industry so he could teach this field to other students.
“A couple of years later, I started developing and managing the IT education programs and then the security programs for a private college in the Boise area. Although I am working a nine-to-five still, and teaching as an adjunct, I find it rewarding. I get the opportunity to see others grow, so I still continue to do it.”
Chavez was approached with the opportunity to develop courses and teach at Boise State by Sin Ming Loo, program director for the cyber operations and resilience program, as he sought experienced individuals in the Boise area. Today, Chavez teaches CORe 420/520 and CPS 402.
Embracing your heritage can lead to success
Chavez believes he wouldn’t be here today if it was not for his parents’ sacrifice and teachings. The support he received from his parents, mentors and community inspires him to continue achieving success. It makes him proud to be Mexican.
“We can be very quiet and low-key, then we get started on a good fiesta and we can get really loud.” This adaptability has made it possible for Chavez to communicate and work well with others.
“I feel like I can get along with anybody. I have a lot of patience, thanks to my parents and heritage, so I am able to listen more and then respond when appropriate.”
Furthermore, Chavez advocates embracing one’s own culture, especially being bi- or multilingual, as it may help find success in cybersecurity. “I can go on the web and recognize security incidents involving communications that are out of the norm, that may be in Spanish. I can also communicate with people who speak Spanish if there is communication needed globally.”
Chavez sees speaking different languages as an advantage and benefit to an employer. “If a company has locations outside of the U.S., it will help you to communicate with the other locations.”
Chavez continues to be an inspiration to not only the Hispanic and Latine students from the cyber operations and resilience program but to other students who may come from humble backgrounds. To advance the field of cybersecurity, the program recognizes the importance of attracting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Learn more about Boise State’s cyber programs
Boise State University’s online cyber operations and resilience undergraduate and graduate programs prepare you for a purposeful career. Our programs will help you gain practical knowledge and industry credentials and learn how to create holistic resilience across people, processes and technology. Ready to get started?
Learn More About Boise State’s Cyber Programs
Written by Ranier Lieberman.