For Computer Science major Sabrina Barrile ’26, personally building confidence in a male-dominated field led her to create space for other women in cybersecurity at Arcadia.

“I’ve spent a lot of time battling imposter syndrome,” Barrile explained. “Compared to who I was four years ago, I’m a completely different person, whether that be my confidence level or my social capabilities. It was intimidating to enter a male-dominated field when I was unsure of my skills. However, overcoming those ‘can I really do this?’ moments has shown me that I’m far more capable than I ever gave myself credit for.”

In pursuit of amplifying women’s voices in her field, the Medford, N.J., native founded Arcadia’s chapter of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) last spring. The group has continued to grow, supporting younger students interested in cybersecurity.

“WiCyS is such a supportive, inclusive community, and I really wanted to bring that environment to our campus,” she said. “Seeing it come to life and sharing those resources with my peers has been an amazing experience. I’m giving new students the space to learn and grow about cybersecurity that I wish I had when I was a freshman.

“What really sparked my interest in cybersecurity was seeing how much it affects our daily lives and how much harm cyber criminals can really do,” Barrile said. “Most people don’t realize it, but cybersecurity applies to most aspects of our daily lives. It’s an extremely important field that needs more people, especially women! That’s why organizations like WiCyS are so important in showing others they are capable and can make a big difference in cybersecurity.”

Barrile has been involved in cybersecurity outside of WiCyS as well. She works on the University’s IT Infrastructure team, volunteered at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Eastern Conference in 2025, and competes in Arcadia’s cybersecurity competitions.

“It was a lot of fun to network with other CS students and participate in the cybersecurity competition,” Barrile said. “I am a very social person, so any events where I can talk to a lot of people make me happy. It was also a nice opportunity to connect with other professors who were also volunteering.”

Barrile encourages new students in the department to get involved.

“My advice for incoming Computer Science majors is to make yourself known and always say yes to academic opportunities,” Barrile encouraged. “Even if it doesn’t work out, you have now given yourself even a smidge more knowledge in that area, and it helps to better guide your future to what you actually want to pursue. ”

Barrile studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and traveled to Scotland with her Preview the World course. She is also vice president of Arcadia’s Astrology Club, an Italian tutor, a member of Arcadia’s chapter of the National Italian Honor Society, Gamma Kappa Alpha, and a student ambassador. After graduation, Barrile plans to travel through Italy before beginning her role as a cybersecurity analyst at Chatham Financial in Kennett Square, Pa., where she interned last summer.

“I truly believe I flourished here because of Arcadia’s tight-knit community,” Barrile said. “The faculty don’t just teach; they genuinely care about the growth of their students. That supportive culture gave me the confidence to dive into campus life and start a club of my own. It’s a unique, hands-on experience that you just don’t find at bigger schools, and for this, I’m so glad I chose Arcadia.”