Today, technology is a fixture in everyday life. From smart phones and tablets to computers and online devices, connectivity to cyberspace is far outpacing our ability to instill essential cybersecurity education. User education remains one of the most under-invested and under-appreciated aspects of cybersecurity. Proper cyber hygiene, for starters, is critical in protecting youth and disadvantaged communities from the cyber criminals that prey on users with limited knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity.
By educating youth and families and retooling underserved communities, we can mitigate the dangers of the online world, cultivate a strong technology workforce, and make the Internet a secure experience for everyone!
Founded in 2017, Teaching Digital Natives is a non-profit educational initiative that provides technology, cybersecurity and digital literacy for kids.
Our Team
Our team is comprised of an interdisciplinary and diverse group of cybersecurity and leadership professionals with backgrounds in information security, computer science, cybersecurity policy, leadership, and education.
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View DetailsJUAN CARLOS “JC” DEL VALLE
Executive Director
Before joining Teaching Digital Natives, JC was the Executive Director of Development at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where he served as a chief fundraising and development officer in support of the School’s mission, vision and goals.
Prior to his role at FIU, JC served as Assistant Vice President for Government and Community Relations at the University of Miami. In that role, JC was responsible for overseeing all university activities related to local government, as well as cultivating and leveraging relationships with business and non-profit organizations in Miami-Dade County. Before joining UM in 2008 as its director of government affairs, JC was Assistant to the County Manager of Miami-Dade County, where he was responsible for several key infrastructure departments. He started at the County as a Senior Policy Analyst for former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and later served as Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs for former Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
Past chair of Leadership Miami, a program of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce which prepares the next generation of Miami leaders to meet future challenges, he remains active with the chamber, serving on its board, as well as the boards of CareerSource South Florida, L.I.V.E, and Florida Covering Kids and Families.
In addition to a Master’s of Public Administration from FIU, JC received his bachelor’s degree in business at UM. -
View DetailsDANIELLE REYES
Director of Outreach
As the Deputy Director of Teaching Digital Natives, Danielle Reyes stands out as a multifaceted professional, bringing a rich tapestry of experience gained in the fast-paced and innovative realms of startups within the automotive, e-learning, luxury, and technology industries. Her proficiency is not limited to a single area; rather, it spans a broad spectrum of skills that include project and process management, instructional design, and training. Danielle’s acumen extends to the intricate aspects of content development, where she blends creativity with efficacy, and her expertise in marketing is complemented by a deep understanding of analytics and digital campaigns. She is particularly adept in the cutting-edge areas of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, bringing these immersive tools to the forefront of educational methodologies. Moreover, her role involves providing creative direction, a testament to her ability to envision and execute innovative strategies. Her keen focus on customer success underscores her commitment to delivering value and excellence. Danielle’s exceptional ability to adapt to dynamic environments and leverage her diverse skills ensures that she consistently delivers exceptional results, making her a valuable asset to the team and a driving force in the field of digital education.
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View DetailsALDO J. FONSECA
Associate Director of Outreach
Aldo J. Fonseca currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach for Teaching Digital Natives, where he leads local and non-profit client engagement. Prior to joining TDN, Aldo served as the Special Projects Manager for the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International University. In this role he helped design and launch the Intelligence Fellowship and Cyber Threat Intelligence Fellowship programs. Aldo also developed and managed an innovative a series of cyber-hygiene educational workshops that would serve as the basis for FIU’s Foundations of Cyber Operations Student Development Badge.
Prior to working for the Jack D. Gordon Institute, Aldo was the International Admissions Officer at FIU’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where he traveled to over 27 countries to engage and recruit international students. He is trilingual and a gifted public speaker.
Aldo earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a focus on National Security and Latin America and Caribbean Studies at Florida International University, before completing a Master of Science degree in Global Enterprise Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Advisory Council
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View DetailsED CABRERA
Chief Cybersecurity Officer, Trend Micro
Eduardo Cabrera is responsible for analyzing emerging cyberthreats to develop innovative and resilient enterprise risk management strategies for Fortune 500 clients and strategic partners. Before joining Trend Micro, he was a 20-year veteran and former CISO of the US Secret Service with experience leading information security, cyber-investigative and protective programs in support of the Secret Service integrated mission. He started his career investigating transnational cybercriminal groups targeting the financial and retail sectors and later led cyber-forensic operations in support of Secret Service large-scale data breach investigations. He then served as the Secret Service Strategic Advisor to the DHS National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).
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View DetailsMAURICIO ANGÉE
Dr. BA, Chief Information Security Officer, University of Miami
Mauricio Angée is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with over 25 years of experience in healthcare, banking and financial services, hospitality, entertainment, and the government sector. Mauricio currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, Fl., where he is responsible for setting the roadmap and strategy for the protection of information assets. Mr. Angée was the Computer Security Official (CSO) for Northrop-Grumman at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Kennedy Space Center, FL., where he supported the Kennedy Integrated Communications Services (KICS) contract. Mauricio currently serves in the Board of Directors, and as the Financial Sector Chief, at the FBI- Infragard information sharing group of South Florida, and is a member of the US Secret Service Miami Electronic Crimes Task Force. Mauricio is one of the most influential security professionals in his field. With his leadership skills and extensive experience, he has made significant contributions to the information security community.
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View DetailsPATRICK DYER
President & CEO, Digitalera
As a co-founder, board member and Digitalera, Patrick leads Digitalera’s talented team of experts dedicated to providing world-class security compliance solutions and services to businesses, the public sector and independent service providers. His vision for making a world-class security products and service excellence affordable for organizations of all sizes is the driving force behind his vision at Digitalera. Prior to Digitalera, Patrick served in key leadership roles at Microsoft and Merisel Latin America, Inc.
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View DetailsSAIF ISHOOF
Founder, LAB22C
Saif Y. Ishoof, Esq. serves as founder of Lab22c and Miami Dade College’s inaugural Presidential Innovation Fellow. Prior to that, Saif served as Vice President for Engagement at Florida International University where he leads the office in incubating transformational partnerships. Prior to that, Saif served as founding Executive Director at City Year Miami, which provides 17-24 year olds an opportunity to serve one year in high-need schools as tutors, mentors and role models to address the opportunity gap. Under Saif’s leadership, the organization more than doubled in size and scope with an expansion from 8 to 17 schools. Saif earned his bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. His professional career includes being a startup technology entrepreneur and executive in the agricultural and engineering space. In 2012, Saif co-founded a technology entrepreneurship initiative called TekFight to empower young innovators in Miami. Saif’s personal and professional life has been defined by a commitment to developing young people, building civic institutions, international dialogue, and entrepreneurship.
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View DetailsHELVETIELLA LONGORIA
Chief Information Officer, Florida International University
Helve Longoria serves as the Chief Information Security Officer at Florida International University. She has over 20 years of experience and management in information and network security. Ms. Longoria’s innovation and leadership over the years have played a critical role in developing and enhancing Florida International University’s network. In October 2014, Ms. Longoria’s work earned her the Cybersecurity Leadership and Innovation Award in the Education Category by the Center for Digital Government. This award honors those in state and local government and education who have driven forward cybersecurity efforts in their communities. As a result of Ms. Longoria’s work, the Division was recognized for its commitment to data security. Most recently, under Ms. Longoria’s leadership, a new account recovery process and two-factor authentication was successfully rolled out to critical enterprise applications. As part of the on-going Security Enhancement Strategy, plans to roll out two-factor authentication to other applications and web logins are in progress. Ms. Longoria is also a facilitator for ‘Girls Who Code’, a club of about 25 girls from a local middle school who she meets with weekly to teach them how to code and discuss various technology topics such as cybersecurity. Ms. Longoria holds a Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems.
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View DetailsRAJ SAMANI
Chief Scientist and McAfee Fellow for Cybersecurity, Mcafee
Raj Samani is Chief Scientist and McAfee Fellow for cybersecurity firm McAfee. He has assisted multiple law enforcement agencies in cybercrime cases, and is a special advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre in The Hague. Samani has been recognized for his contribution to the computer security industry through numerous awards, including the Infosecurity Europe hall of Fame, Peter Szor award, and Intel Achievement Award, among others. He is the coauthor of the book “Applied Cyber Security and the Smart Grid” and the “CSA Guide to Cloud Computing,” as well as technical editor for numerous other publications. He can be found on twitter @Raj_Samani.