FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu
![Candide Kashala and Kyle Bell, wife and husband, both in MassBay Cybersecurity program.]( "Candide Kashala and Kyle Bell, wife and husband, both in MassBay Cybersecurity program.")
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (October 13, 2021) — It’s not every day a husband and wife register for classes together to study in the same program, but cybersecurity students, Kyle Bell and Candide Kashala of Shrewsbury, MA did just that. They are not only studying cybersecurity full-time, Kyle works full-time in a Social Security office and Candide works full-time raising their two toddlers, Hannah and Henry. “It’s a lot to juggle, especially during the pandemic, but we know it will be worth it in the end. Both of us always have enjoyed working with computers and know the cybersecurity field has many in-demand job opportunities,” said Candide.
Kyle and Candide met as undergrads at Syracuse University in New York. Kyle, originally from Philadelphia, PA, majored in communications and sociology, played football for the Syracuse Orange, and had his career goals set on becoming a football coach. Candide, originally from Wellesley, MA, studied biology and wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps of becoming a scientific researcher. Kyle graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse and worked as an internet sales coordinator after graduation. Candide graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse and began working as a scientific document translator.
“Kyle was looking for a career with more growth opportunities when a family friend recommended he attend MassBay. When I started to help Kyle research MassBay, the programs and career opportunities piqued my interest, too. At the time, I wanted to try something new. We were both interested in computers and knew cybersecurity would provide us with a wide variety of opportunities to explore. We decided to register for cybersecurity classes together,” said Candide.
Kyle added, “MassBay has so many supports in place to help students succeed. I hope all MassBay students can take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them as many are not offered at every college. There are a wide range of programs from which to choose, including the STEM Mentor Program, which provides encounters and meetings with outside employment professionals to help build a professional network. The STEM Mentor Program events and activities I took part in have been invaluable for my future and helped me navigate and plan exciting career possibilities.”
“MassBay has a significant number of students, like Kyle and Candide, that come here with undergraduate degrees from four-year institutions to pursue a certificate and/or an associate’s degree in a major that has marketability in the working world,” said MassBay STEM Starter Academy Project Director, Valerie Kapilow. “For various reasons, some students decide not to pursue a career in a field that is aligned with their undergraduate major or may find it difficult to secure a job related to their major. Community colleges are well-positioned to assist these students by helping them retool their skillsets to excel in the current job market. We are here to help train and maintain a solid pipeline of well-educated workers.”
Kyle and Candide are both scheduled to graduate in May 2022 with their cybersecurity and advanced cybersecurity certificates.
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.