Blazing New Trails: East Texas A&M Honors College and A&M-RELLIS Shape Cybersecurity Graduate’s Career Success

Kalat’s academic and professional successes illustrate the transformative power of an East Texas A&M University education.

A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity can open doors to exciting, innovative careers, and Tag Kalat is living proof. In December 2024, Kalat became the first East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) Honors College student to complete a degree at Texas A&M-RELLIS. His journey is one of determination, adaptability and the power of hands-on learning.

Finding a focus in cybersecurity

Kalat didn't always know he wanted to study cybersecurity. He originally applied to ETAMU as a math major. However, that changed after a technology class during his senior year of high school introduced him to the technology field.

“I knew that's what I wanted to do,” he said. “From there, I started exploring all the different sides of the industry and found cyber to be the most interesting.”

With his major decided, Kalat set his sights on Texas A&M-RELLIS, where East Texas A&M offers its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program.

Located in Bryan, Texas, A&M-RELLIS is the first campus in the state to combine education, research and testing. It offers engineering and technology degree programs through several higher education institutions, including many in The Texas A&M University System.

From Commerce to A&M-RELLIS

Typically, A&M-RELLIS students complete an associate degree before transferring to one of the four-year universities hosted at the RELLIS campus, but Kalat blazed a new path.

As the first ETAMU Honors College student intent on attending A&M-RELLIS, Kalat had to complete his honors curriculum and scholarship requirements in Commerce before transferring. Honors College Director Brittney Yager said the process involved close collaboration with the College of Science and Engineering.

“We wanted to make sure that Tag could meet all of his honors requirements in two years and then finish his thesis work from a distance,” Yager said.

Dr. Erin Webster Garrett, dean of the Honors College, said Kalat's journey personifies the core of an ETAMU Honors College experience.

“We strive to bridge academic excellence with real-world application,” Webster Garrett said. “Through experiential learning and determination, Tag has achieved personal success and paved the way for future East Texas A&M students to thrive in innovative programs like cybersecurity at Texas A&M-RELLIS.”

Navigating change

The transition to A&M-RELLIS wasn't easy. Kalat left friends behind in Commerce, and the RELLIS campus's focus on academics and project-based learning over traditional residential life allowed less time to network with his peers. Still, the hands-on, project-based approach of the ETAMU cybersecurity program was a major benefit.

“A&M-RELLIS classes are mostly made up of projects rather than homework,” Kalat said. This structure gave him time to focus on his honors thesis while developing real-world skills.

Dr. Abdullah Arslan, head of the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, said ETAMU's cybersecurity program is an excellent choice for aspiring information security professionals.

“Our cybersecurity curriculum is comprehensive and covers the most modern topics,” Arslan said. “It is designed and maintained by outstanding faculty members collaborating with professionals from leading technology companies.”

Cisco internship leads to career opportunity

Kalat said his cybersecurity studies and hands-on learning experiences positioned him for professional success, beginning with a pivotal internship at Cisco Systems, Inc., a top technology firm. His comprehensive knowledge impressed the Cisco team, helping him secure an internship as a consulting engineer on the company's data center team.

“Cybersecurity is concerned with all of the issues in other technology areas,” Kalat said. “By studying cybersecurity, you get a broad understanding of the field. This background was very helpful in preparing for my internship because I was familiar with nearly everything I would deal with, and I had a solid understanding of the basics.”

During his six-month internship, Kalat worked directly with customers to help them use Cisco's technology effectively. His work convinced the company to offer him a full-time role after graduation.

“The tech industry is one of the more competitive fields to try and break into, making it difficult to get a job right out of college,” he said. “I was thrilled when I got my return offer, and I'm excited to start full-time.”

Preparing for professional success

Reflecting on his academic journey, Kalat encourages aspiring cybersecurity students to utilize available resources to learn about and prepare for the field. He emphasized the project-focused curriculum at A&M-RELLIS as a great opportunity to gain hands-on experiences that can help graduates stand out in the job market.

He credits the Honors College for helping broaden his perspective and the hands-on projects at A&M-RELLIS for helping him build practical skills and professional relationships to excel in the technology industry. Kalat leveraged these varied experiences to build a solid foundation for academic and professional success. His story demonstrates how collaboration, hard work and tenacity—combined with innovative, industry-aligned degree programs—can transform students’ lives at East Texas A&M.