Each year, Georgetown SCS honors outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the annual Tropaia Awards in Gaston Hall. This is a treasured occasion to publicly celebrate the ways that SCS community members bring the Spirit of Georgetown, the Jesuit mission and values that animate this entire learning community, to life in their study and work. The SCS Spirit of Georgetown award is selected by a committee of faculty and staff through a rigorous process of reviewing peer nominations.
This year’s winner is Zaki Mohammed, a graduating student of the Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Risk Management program. Mohammed has demonstrated extraordinary leadership during his time at the School of Continuing Studies that has contributed to the School’s reputation for applied innovation in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Both within the University and outside of it, Zaki has strived to advance the University’s leadership in these ever-evolving and dynamic areas of professional life and practice. I hope you will find, in his responses, connections to the University’s mission and values, particularly Georgetown’s longstanding commitment to forming lifelong learners who are generous in service with and for others.
- Tell us a bit about your story. What led you to Georgetown SCS and where is your journey heading a few years after your graduation?
When I look back at my journey, from the vibrant, technology-driven streets of Bangalore, India, to Georgetown’s inspiring and intellectual community, I reflect on something much more than just a professional career trajectory. I see a deeply personal transformation driven by purpose, hard work, passion, and values that transcend any achievement.
Growing up in Bangalore, India’s “Silicon Valley,” technology was always a significant part of my life. The exponential advancements in technology overwhelmed me with uncertainty about my future. My mother, who always believed education and the pursuit of knowledge were the best ways to find one’s place in this world, constantly reminded me that I would be fine. Yet despite studying computer science engineering as a 16-year-old, I initially struggled to find my place in this modern world. It wasn’t until my senior year when I took a class on advanced network security that something profound sparked within me—a calling not just to understand technology but to protect people from the vulnerabilities it creates. This moment of clarity set the stage for everything that followed.
I made it my life’s goal to become a highly skilled cybersecurity professional, aiming to be an integral part of the digital revolution and to help build a trustworthy digital world that our civilization is headed towards. I started by learning cybersecurity, working on research projects in healthcare cybersecurity, publishing papers, and gaining over three years of experience in cybersecurity, threat intelligence, and information assurance. I’ve designed, implemented, and validated risk management strategies for enterprises navigating today’s complex threat landscape.
In pursuit of further knowledge, I traveled across the world and came to Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies seeking expertise. However, I quickly discovered something far more valuable: a community that inspired me to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose. My time at Georgetown profoundly shaped both who I am and who I aspire to become. Coming from humble beginnings as an international student, Georgetown welcomed me with opportunities and a community that valued not just my potential but also my story.
At Georgetown, my proudest moments went beyond technical research or career milestones. Serving as senator for the Cybersecurity & Risk Management Program and director of the Online Students and Technology Committee allowed me to advocate for my fellow students and thousands of online students, building meaningful connections. Growing up in a small town in India and coming from a humble middle-class family, I had never dreamt I would one day be among such great company and represent them. Learning from experienced industry professors and working with them on futuristic research projects are experiences I will never forget. These experiences weren’t merely extracurricular—they taught me about leadership, the power of hard work, and the profound responsibility that comes with advocacy.
Creating Georgetown’s first-ever cybersecurity student society and working as a research assistant provided deeply personal experiences that made my time here truly worthwhile. Understanding the intersection of artificial intelligence and cognitive biases wasn’t just academic; it was about creating fairness and equity, ensuring technology serves humanity ethically. This pursuit of ethical technological implementations through innovation continued into my work with Siemens, helping protect critical infrastructure.
My graduate student life at Georgetown involved working 12-hour days during the summer, managing an internship, assistantship, volunteering for GradGov and Georgetown University Cybersecurity Society, keeping up with academic rigor, and achieving professional certifications. At times, all of this seemed overwhelming, but the pursuit of knowledge, growth, and intellectual curiosity kept me going. While being deeply involved and committed to multiple responsibilities, the “why” always mattered more to me than the “how.” Throughout it all, I never lost sight of the “why.” Whether publishing research, raising $25,000 in alumni engagement as a student engagement specialist at the Office of Advancement, or advocating for funding for new cybersecurity initiatives, I was driven by the belief that technology is only as powerful as the values guiding it. My focus consistently remained on safeguarding trust and ensuring people remained at the heart of technological progress.
The most precious moment of my Georgetown experience, which I hold closest to my heart, was when my efforts to pursue academic excellence and contributions to the betterment of fellow graduate student experiences were recognized with the Exceptional Master’s Student Award by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences last spring.
Graduating from Georgetown University this year, receiving the prestigious Spirit of Georgetown Award, and being honored as the outstanding student in the Cybersecurity Risk Management Program, as well as leading 1,400 exceptional graduates as the student marshal at the convocation ceremony, were profoundly humbling milestones. These experiences were precious to me not merely due to the recognition itself, but because they affirmed that I had successfully embodied the values Georgetown cherishes. It reminded me that while professional accomplishments are important, true success lies in how deeply you touch the lives around you and how genuinely you live out your values.
Being recognized as the 2025 Spirit of Georgetown recipient, I now carry the responsibility of walking in the path of some of the greatest individuals who have carried this honor throughout the 200-year history of this prestigious university. This responsibility and the exciting expectations of my professors, who have instilled precious knowledge and wisdom in me, will guide me in my future pursuits to embody the values Georgetown proudly cherishes.
Looking forward, my vision remains rooted in the values Georgetown instilled in me. Whether working at the forefront of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, shaping ethical technology policies, or building inclusive communities, my goal is to lead thoughtfully, act responsibly, and always stay guided by the spirit of service.
Georgetown didn’t just prepare me for a career—it shaped me into someone who sees technology as a tool for meaningful and compassionate evolution. This spirit, more than any skill or achievement, is what I’ll carry forward wherever life takes me.
Hoya Saxa.
- Your degree was in Cybersecurity Risk Management, and you have been involved in research about artificial intelligence, including cognitive bias. What do you think are the most significant ethical dimensions of this new technology?
My work as a research assistant to Dr. Lemieux on cognitive bias detection using advanced prompt engineering deeply reinforced my belief in the ethical responsibility we hold when developing and implementing new technologies like artificial intelligence. While our research was not specifically focused on cybersecurity, my background in Cybersecurity Risk Management constantly reminded me of how biases and misinformation can compromise trust, security, and fairness in our digital society.
Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and circular reasoning, significantly impact critical decision-making across areas like media, healthcare, and legal systems. Our research addressed these issues by engineering structured prompts to guide AI systems toward accurately detecting these biases in real-time. This capability is ethically significant because it promotes transparency, reduces misinformation, and ultimately leads to fairer outcomes.
- As you reflect back on your time at SCS, what advice or inspiration would you like to share with the soon-to-be graduates?
As I reflect on my journey at Georgetown SCS and my life experiences thus far, the best advice I can share with soon-to-be graduates, especially young individuals like myself, is to anchor your lives around four key pillars: the pursuit of true independence, the pursuit of knowledge, the pursuit of happiness, and the pursuit of love. True independence gives you the freedom and courage to chart your path; knowledge equips you with the tools to understand and impact the world around you; happiness fuels your spirit and passion; and love connects you deeply and meaningfully with others.
My grandmother often reminded me, “Make your corner of the world beautiful, and the world will eventually be an amazing place.” This simple yet profound wisdom has guided me through my toughest moments. It taught me that creating positive change starts small, right from your immediate surroundings. If each of us commits to making our corners of the world more compassionate, inclusive, and hopeful, collectively, we will transform our communities and ultimately, the world.
Embrace these pursuits wholeheartedly, live your values, and know that your unique story and voice truly matter.