Originally from Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Rayuth ‘David’ Phan moved to the United States in 2018 as an international student.
Today, the Missouri State University alumnus resides in Springfield, Missouri, and is building a career in information technology and cybersecurity.
Phan’s journey is rooted in the sacrifices his parents made to provide him and his brother with a quality education. In Cambodia, his parents dedicated more than half of their income to their children’s educational expenses.
“Their dedication taught me the value of education and inspired me to use my opportunities to make a meaningful impact on my community,” Phan said.
Pursuing IT
Phan began his college career at Missouri State in 2021. He chose MSU because of its business programs and affordability.
At first, he considered a data analytics or international business major. But he switched to information technology cybersecurity (ITC) and infrastructure in his first fall semester.
“My interest in IT started with my uncle’s internet café, where I built my first computer from spare parts,” Phan said. “Later, my college advisor introduced me to MSU’s cybersecurity program, and its focus on the business side of IT showed me how my work could impact organizations.”
The MSU experience
While at MSU during his freshman and sophomore years, Phan worked various on-campus jobs. He was a custodial assistant, resident assistant, recreational sports official and Bookstore cashier.
“I enjoyed being a resident assistant because it taught me what it’s like to be responsible for the well-being of those around me,” he said.
He also joined the Association for Business Information Technology Students (ABITS), a student IT organization. Phan competed in the U.S. Information Technology Collegiate Conference Regional Competition and by 2023, placed fourth out of 60 contestants in the security category.
While at MSU, Phan was also a member of SAAB, a student organization that focused on professional development of all students from every background.
“SAAB helped me develop professional networking skills, opened doors to many job opportunities and allowed me to give back to the community through volunteering,” he said.
Securing internships and a career
Phan’s proactive approach to networking as a student led to two internships.
“Through ABITS, I secured my first cybersecurity internship,” he said. “I connected with a recruiter from Kiewit during a career fair. At a later event, I was offered a position with the company, my first hands-on experience with the cybersecurity field.”
In 2023, at Kiewit in Lenexa, Kansas, he was part of the Security Operations Center (SOC) team, working in various Microsoft security platforms, investigating alerts and developing automation for incident responses.
In summer 2024, Phan secured a second internship with Lockton, in Kansas City, Missouri.
“The internship program emphasized real–world problem-solving, culminating in a capstone project where my team and I addressed a significant challenge and presented our solution to key stakeholders,” he said.
In December 2024, Phan graduated from Missouri State with his bachelor’s degree. His proud parents witnessed the momentous occasion.
“Graduating was more than just a personal achievement — it was a monumental milestone that fulfilled my parents’ dream,” he said. “It represents the sacrifices they made and their unwavering determination to give me opportunities they never had.”
He now works as a security analyst at Lockton. His job involves “supporting the security operations team in protecting and advancing the company’s cybersecurity initiatives.”