Hi, my name is Atlantis Mahogany Vaughn. My transition into cybersecurity comes with three master’s degrees: Special Education, Educational Leadership, and, most recently, Cybersecurity, and follows a 25-year career in education, where I honed strong leadership, problem-solving, and mentoring skills. Now, I’m combining my passion for learning and helping others with my mission to protect people and organizations from cyber threats. As I am shifting from education, I hope to bring a rich and diverse background to the field of cybersecurity.
As a special education and inclusion English teacher, I piloted successful inclusive programs in Virginia Beach and Nashville; I have taught all subjects to both general education and special needs students from 2nd to 12th grades, with the bulk of my career teaching English in middle and high schools. Over the years, I have been a mentor to student teachers, presented at a variety of workshops and conferences, and served as the special education chairperson and team leader, developing leadership skills that blended democratic, transformational, and coaching styles. These experiences helped me foster collaboration and guide teams toward successful outcomes—a skill set I have found invaluable as I transitioned into the cybersecurity field.
My passion for cybersecurity is fueled by a desire to protect individuals, organizations, and critical systems from cyber threats. After completing my master’s in cybersecurity, I became even more motivated to continue my learning in areas that align with ethical hacking, risk management, and digital forensics. My CyberGEN.IQ indicates strengths in both Initiating and Responding on the Exhaustive half of the quadrant, with a natural fit in the Exhaustive-Responding quadrant, which is consistent with my career goals and confirms my strengths in adaptability and leadership – two traits I have consistently leaned on throughout my career. I find myself drawn to the DFIR and vulnerability assessments learning pathways, but the leader in me craves GRC.
While I have yet to gain experience in practical application, I have had the opportunity to grow through hands-on labs and self-paced learning. I’m currently preparing for the CompTIA Security+ certification, and I’m a scholarship recipient of the CyberEd in a Box program to deepen my knowledge of risk assessment and threat management. Outside of academics, I’m an active learner, regularly honing my technical skills by practicing cybersecurity scenarios on TryHackMe. Ultimately, my goal is to make a lasting impact by contributing to the development of secure, resilient systems and campaigning for cybersecurity awareness initiatives in remote/rural areas. I believe in lifelong learning, and I am excited to grow as a security professional, share my experiences, and learn from others. I look forward to collaborating with peers and mentors in this dynamic field. Feel free to connect if you’d like to discuss cybersecurity, risk management, or collaborative projects!
Cyber 12 Consulting 