Resilient and Relentless: 60-Year-Old UA Little Rock Grad Redefines What’s Possible

Most people don’t start a new career in their 50s, much less in one of the fastest-evolving fields in the world. But Slynn McMinn isn’t most people.

The 60-year-old Christiansburg, Virginia, resident will soon graduate from UA Little Rock with a Master of Science in information science, a milestone in a journey marked by resilience, reinvention, and relentless dedication.

“I didn’t set out to pursue a master’s degree in information science; it was a journey shaped by unexpected opportunities,” said McMinn, who originally hails from Valdosta, Georgia.

For most of her career, McMinn taught special education and deaf education.

“I loved both populations deeply,” she said. 

However, in 2019, her resume unexpectedly landed on the desk of a CTE (Career and Technical Education) director in Virginia, and she was later offered a role teaching cybersecurity, despite her lack of formal experience in the field. Initially, she thought it was a mistake. 

“Though I had IT experience from my own publishing company and some recent certifications, my teaching experience was in Special/Deaf Education,” she said, adding that the CTE director “assured me I was the right person for the job and encouraged me to try. His faith in me became my mantra to pay it forward.”

McMinn stepped into the role, teaching cybersecurity at Christiansburg High School. In 2021, she learned about the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) -– a graduate certificate program in cybersecurity education for high school teachers, offered virtually through UA Little Rock, DePaul University, and the University of Louisville. She applied and joined the inaugural class in Summer 2022.

“Toward the end of the program, UA Little Rock offered us the chance to continue into the master’s program,” she said. “I applied, was accepted, and earned a Master of Science in information science, along with graduate certificates in data science and the NCTA.”

Her path wasn’t easy. McMinn has juggled three teaching jobs—at Christiansburg High, Tennessee Online Public School, and Cornerstone Classical Academy—while running her own Christian publishing company. She has also cared for her sick husband. After several hospitalizations and a misdiagnosis, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia – the same disorder affecting actor Bruce Willis.

“This diagnosis was both a relief and the beginning of a new, challenging journey,” McMinn said. “As his sole caregiver, I have had to navigate this while managing four jobs and my master’s studies.”

Still, she persisted.

“There were times I considered giving up, but the encouragement from (Director of Cybersecurity Education and Outreach) Sandra Leiterman and (computer science instructor) Gin Jadav, along with the patience and support of my professors, kept me going,” she said. “Their support has been invaluable. I have had the most supportive, patient, and understanding professors that I’ve ever encountered.”

Leiterman said McMinn has shown exceptional dedication to her education and to supporting others despite life’s challenges.

“Throughout it all, she remained committed not only to her own success but also to mentoring and assisting fellow NCTA students, offering guidance and encouragement when they needed it most,” Leiterman said. “Her persistence, professionalism, and generosity make her a standout in the program.”

McMinn’s thesis focused on “Incorporation of AI Into the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum,” developing three progressive, semester-long courses and a rationale for integrating artificial intelligence into high school instruction. The project included a detailed instructional design, comprehensive outlines, lesson plans, activities, and assessments.

After graduation, McMinn plans to continue teaching at all three schools, running her business, and caring for her husband. She is even considering applying for another part-time teaching position online.

 “I strive for my passion for this field to be contagious, and I strive to inspire students, especially those who think they can’t succeed in IT,” she said. “Witnessing students who believe they ‘can’t do IT’ earn certifications and develop new skills is deeply rewarding.”

McMinn is grateful that she’s been able to face and overcome many challenges and take part in a transformative experience.

“As a non-traditional student – finishing my master’s at 60 and as a woman in a male-dominated IT field – my greatest achievement has been persevering through the challenges,” McMinn said. “Balancing a full-time job, two part-time jobs, running a business, taking master’s classes, being a sole caregiver, and managing ADHD and dyslexia, all required immense determination and support from my faith, encouragers, and the opportunities I was given. This experience has been humbling and is a milestone I cherish.”

She said Leiterman, Jadav, and Dr. Phillip Huff (associate professor) have been lifelines throughout her journey. 

“I deeply admire their knowledge, patience, and passion for the field. Their encouragement has been a guiding light for me.”

For McMinn, teaching cybersecurity is more than a career—it’s a calling.

“I look forward to walking into my classroom every day. I honestly love teaching these high school students in this field, watching their growth and passion get ignited, and seeing them develop their careers in the field after graduation,” she said. “It is the filling in a hole that I didn’t even know that I had.”