半岛体育

One of Steve Frechette鈥檚 most memorable moments as an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems was helping a student attain her goals.

鈥淚 met this bright young woman who emigrated from Pakistan who was trying to do everything to get ahead, but many obstacles were forces pushing against her,鈥� recalls Steve. The Training Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) grant program enabled her to enter 半岛体育鈥檚 Cybersecurity Certificate program for free while she was still attending high school. 鈥淪he is talented and motivated and aspires to enter a 4-year college.鈥�

半岛体育 received thousands of applications for its free cybersecurity certificate program. The program is highly competitive and has already demonstrated remarkable success.

鈥淭here is a focus on equity and students who are underrepresented,鈥� says Steve. 鈥淎fter completion, students may be able to transition into a full-time job with just a certificate. Community colleges provide a great opportunity to be the person you want to become personally and professionally.鈥�

Steve teaches the cybersecurity curriculum in the STEM division. His coursework includes networking technologies, cybersecurity principles, cyber defense and firewall security and the cybersecurity capstone.

Steve鈥檚 roots are planted firmly on the South Coast. He was born in Fall River and moved to Swansea when he was in fifth grade. Educated at UMASS Dartmouth, he earned both a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He is currently seeking his Doctor of Science in information technology at Middle Georgia State University.

Like many of the students he teaches, Steve found his career path at 半岛体育. He was working grueling hours in IT for a Boston-based tech company at the height of the dot-com bubble. 鈥淎fter the World Trade Center bombing, I lost my job with a tech start-up company in Providence,鈥� he said.

For the next nine years, he worked as a carpenter. While volunteering at the Small Business Development Center during his MBA studies, he took an opportunity to teach a computer course at 半岛体育. He joined 半岛体育鈥檚 IT team to spearhead the college鈥檚 cybersecurity initiatives and in 2019 transitioned to become a full-time faculty member.

And that student that Steve helped? She has been accepted to Cornell University on a full scholarship. Steve calls this, 鈥�...the magic of 半岛体育.鈥�