Brooke Spens

“Brooke Spens,” said her nominator, “is someone who has a curious and dedicated mind focused on learning and developing for the sake of making the world a better place.”

Brooke is a senior studying cybersecurity management and analytics in Pamplin College of Business. Brooke’s curiosity for her field is paired with her compassion and discipline.

Her nominator said, “Brooke has demonstrated an unwavering curiosity towards investigating digital human rights violations in the Tech for Humanity Lab.” Brooke has contributed to the field with numerous blog posts and formal reports on surveillance, privacy, and human rights. She has also co-written research articles that are currently under review with academic journals.

Brooke is highly dedicated to her work, and her nominator said she has exceeded research expectations of an undergraduate student. As a result, she has won awards for her research from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and presented at its Annual Conference in Richmond. She recently represented her lab and Virginia Tech at the prestigious Student Conference on United States Affairs at the United States Military Academy. Since 2024, she has also served as a Defense Civilian Training Corps Scholar.

Brooke serves as a mentor and leader for her peers. Her nominator said, “She has spent the last two years mentoring newer lab members, reviewing their writing, and helping them with their research. She has reached out to experts across the field and faculty across campus. She is a credit to every community she engages with.”

Brooke’s curiosity is present in all aspects of her life, from her studies to her hobbies. She said, “Whether it's making sourdough bread, picking up a new craft, or researching surveillance and human rights, I enjoy the process of learning a new skill. I find a lot of personal satisfaction in taking curiosity from a simple thought to learning its application in the real-world through rounds of trial and error.”

After graduation, she plans to work in cybersecurity and data analytics for the government.

“Aside from working,” Brooke said, “l plan to continue my education both formally and informally through an endless cycle of observing, questioning, and understanding.”

For using her curiosity to build a safer, smarter future, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for COMMIT TO UNWAVERING CURIOSITY to Brooke Spens.