UM’s CyberMontana director recognized as barrier-breaking leader

MISSOULA –University of Montana cybersecurity professor and CyberMontana Director Dianne Burke isn’t intimidated to be the only woman in the classroom.

Burke, who started her career as a chemist in the male-dominated Texas oil business, has been breaking barriers for decades as she advanced her career in computer science, information technology and cybersecurity — a field that is currently 80% male.

As a result of her leadership and persistence, Burke was recognized this month as a Security Industry Association Women in Security Forum Power 100. This annual list recognizes 100 women role models, leaders, innovators and influencers in the global security industry.

“It is important that young women have role models,” said Burke. “When young girls hear the stories of women succeeding in this field, that is one way to buck the trend of girls opting out of STEM careers.”

As a trailblazer, Burke knows the importance of working with young women to enlighten and instill their passion for cybersecurity, and this is especially important before the age that stereotypes often shift those opportunities away from careers in computers and STEM. According to research, while girls’ interest in STEM peaks around age 11, it begins to wane around age 15 as gender stereotypes take hold.

Burke helped launch CyberMontana at UM in 2021 to train and educate adults, college students and high school and middle school students in the field of cybersecurity. A major component of CyberMontana is to empower and lead women towards cybersecurity careers through an effort that fosters mentorship, advocacy and knowledge sharing. Burke’s team does this by hosting STEM camps across Montana for students as young as middle school.

“There is a stereotype that technology is a man’s world,” said Burke. “There are studies that show younger girls believe they have an equal opportunity to pursue STEM careers. But as teenagers, that belief starts to drop off. This is the reason we launch our camps in middle school because if we can get those girls engaged in STEM at that age, we can mitigate the drop in interest we have historically seen.”

To date, over 578 Montana students have participated in CyberMontana’s high school and middle school camps, with many of those students choosing to continue their education through dual enrollment opportunities provided by Missoula College, as well as Missoula College’s two-year and UM’s four-year cybersecurity degree.

This work not only caught the attention of the Security Industry Association, but of Burke’s peers, who have watched her serve as a role model for women in technology since arriving to UM as a faculty member in 2001.

“Dianne Burke is a leader I’m proud work with and learn from—determined yet compassionate,” said Betsy Pickhardt, security awareness training coordinator with CyberMontana. “She embodies a visionary trailblazer rich in experience and innovative in her approach, driving the path forward for the visibility of underrepresented groups in our field. Through her work she has built a more informed, prepared, and resilient electorate here in Montana, ready to navigate the challenges of the digital age. Her proactive approach to cybersecurity is not just a foundation but a blueprint for a safer future—strengthening and making more secure our state, our country and our communities.”

“Dianne Burke is an inspiring and compassionate person, and I'm lucky to have the chance to work with her,” said Kristal Crowley, special projects coordinator at CyberMontana. “She constantly finds new ways to innovate and motivate others while recognizing that everyone has unique ideas and skills that support CyberMontana's mission and Montana as a whole. Dianne is someone who motivates and encourages me, and she works tirelessly to serve all of Montana.”

Burke’s passion for computers and cybersecurity is palpable, and she sees tremendous opportunities ahead for those who pursue this line of work. Her message to young women in the field is resonating, as the proportion of women in the cybersecurity workforce has risen to 20%, up from the single digits when Burke launched her career in the 1980s.

“Computers and technology are now a part of every profession,” Burke adds. “What we tell young people, especially young women, is to take your interest and marry it with technology. In terms of career opportunities, this is helping out young Montanans tremendously.”

At UM, Burke’s impact is felt, as the number of women studying cybersecurity at Missoula College and UM has nearly tripled since 2021. But despite this progress, Burke recognizes there is still a lot more work to do and that is something that inspires her.

To learn more about the camps and other business resources provided by CyberMontana, visit cybermontana.org.