Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
When Paniz Herrera enrolled at Cal State San Bernardino, she wasn’t just chasing a degree — she was blazing a trail. As the first in her family to attend college in America and the eldest daughter in an immigrant household, she carried the weight of responsibility and the hope of possibility.
“I knew my little brother was watching,” Herrera said. “I wanted him to see what was possible.”
Born in Iran, Herrera moved to the U.S. with her family at age 9. Her upbringing, shaped by both her immigrant identity and her role as the eldest sibling, fueled a relentless drive to succeed. She was undocumented for much of her early education, even while legally residing in the U.S., which made her ineligible for federal aid or grants. The barriers she faced only intensified her determination. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management from CSUSB in 2016.
“I refused to let my circumstances define my ceiling,” she said. “That degree wasn’t just mine. It was for every immigrant family who’s ever started over.”
After college, Herrera worked in management roles, but her career path shifted dramatically after she became a mother. The sudden loss of one of her twins during pregnancy, followed by two back-to-back C-sections, put her career trajectory on hold. At the same time, her husband was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. With their small side business barely sustaining them, Herrera began to consider new possibilities.
“Sometimes surrendering control is the best thing you can do,” she said. “Maybe I wouldn’t be this passionate about helping others if everything [in my life] had gone my way.”
Already familiar with CSUSB and its supportive community, Herrera returned for the Master of Business Administration program (MBA) with a concentration in cybersecurity — a bold move into a male-dominated industry with high barriers to entry. Unsure of what the field would entail, she took the leap anyway, determined to build something more sustainable for her family.
“I studied during [my children’s] nap times, wrote papers after their bedtime,” she said, reflecting on the grind of balancing parenting, work and school. “It wasn’t glamorous — it was non-negotiable.”
At CSUSB, she found not only a rigorous academic program but also mentors who made a lasting impact. CSUSB budget analyst Kirstyn Hansen, then in the MBA office, helped Herrera navigate both logistical hurdles and moments of self-doubt. Herrera credits Hansen with encouraging her to apply, walking her through processes, and offering reassurance in the midst of her uncertainty.
She also recalls the kindness of Kathie Pelletier, management professor emeritus from her undergraduate years who welcomed her brother and then-boyfriend (now husband) to sit in on class when Herrera needed support. Years later, Pelletier still messages her words of encouragement.
“It’s those moments — when someone goes beyond their job description — that stay with you,” Herrera said.
As an MBA student ambassador, Herrera embraced the opportunity to give back. She shared her story with other students and offered support to those still navigating their academic journeys. For her, vulnerability wasn’t a weakness but a bridge to connection.
“Our responsibility as humans is to share our experiences,” she said. “Especially in an age of AI and automation, it’s that human connection that will set us apart.”
Her hard work paid off. Herrera landed an internship at Esri, where she initially performed IT setup tasks that required long hours of physical labor. Determined to gain experience in cybersecurity, she raised her hand and asked for more. Esri, the “global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software,” granted her the opportunity to work on DevSecOps communications materials, a foundational step in her professional growth.
Soon after, she attended the Women in Cybersecurity Conference, which led to a job offer from Deloitte, one of the largest international accounting and professional services networks in the world. Initially rejected for a senior role, she advocated for herself and secured an entry-level analyst position. Despite being told she wouldn’t be promoted for at least two years, Herrera advanced in just one.
Now thriving at Deloitte, Herrera works on control implementation for one of the world’s largest tech firms, helping other organizations strengthen their cybersecurity practices. She’s involved in the development of internal applications and brings a keen eye for anticipating problems before they arise. Her expertise continues to grow with every project she takes on.
Alongside her career, Herrera is pursuing a Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University, where she also recently earned a Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology degree. Her doctoral research is centered on strengthening cybersecurity for small to mid-sized businesses — organizations that often lack the resources for high-cost consultants. Her goal is to develop an open-source tool that empowers these businesses to assess and enhance their cybersecurity posture on their own. It’s a mission rooted in service: to provide accessible, no-cost support for entrepreneurs and small enterprises working to stay secure in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
“I’m not doing this to make money,” she said. “I just want to help. Knowledge should be shared.”
Her daily routine is tightly scheduled, balancing work, school, parenting – and self-care. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” she said. “Self-care doesn’t have to be a spa day. Sometimes it’s just a 15-minute bath or watching silly videos to let your mind go to mush.”
She calls this her “paper-plate season” — a time of making do with what’s available, trusting that “fine-china days” will come later. With the support of her husband, her children and her parents, Herrera continues to build a life of meaning and momentum.
Asked about her legacy, she doesn’t hesitate. “I want my daughters to grow up knowing they belong in every room,” she said. “And I want young girls, especially immigrant girls, to know they are capable of leading, building and dreaming big.”