Gavin Ricks · Dallas, Texas
Defend. Build.
Lead.
Computer Science student at Morehouse College. Cybersecurity-focused. NOCTI-certified. Former Microsoft BAM intern.
Scroll
Gavin Ricks · Dallas, Texas
Computer Science student at Morehouse College. Cybersecurity-focused. NOCTI-certified. Former Microsoft BAM intern.
About Me
I'm an incoming freshman at Morehouse College pursuing a BS in Computer Science, with a focus in Cybersecurity. I grew up splitting time between Texas and Brooklyn, gaining exposure to diverse industries while earning certifications from Harvard and NOCTI.
My mom built a tech startup from scratch, and I was right there watching it all, holding the camera at TechCrunch, connecting MSPs on LinkedIn, learning what it actually takes. That front-row seat shaped everything about how I think and what I'm building toward.
I'm currently enrolled in Morehouse's Summer Bridge Experience (SBX) through the Center for Broadening Participation in Computing, deepening my foundation in Python and AI before my first semester even begins.
Experience
Selected for an intensive 6-week computing program through the Center for Broadening Participation in Computing. Sharpening my foundation in Python and Artificial Intelligence, conducting computing research, and building a network with top Black computing professionals ahead of my first semester.
Six-week hands-on engineering program covering math fundamentals, engineering design, and project coordination. Touring and visiting companies in Atlanta while preparing for the dual degree engineering track.
Completed Harvard's flagship introductory computer science course, one of the most rigorous and widely respected CS curricula available. Covered C, Python, SQL, HTML/CSS/JS, algorithms, data structures, memory management, and web development, culminating in a final project and verified certificate.
Earned national NOCTI certification in Cybersecurity Fundamentals, validating expertise in network security, threat identification, incident response, and best practices for protecting systems and data. This certification demonstrates competency in a critical foundation for pursuing advanced cybersecurity roles and aligns with NIST standards.
Participated in the BAM summer mentorship program, gaining direct exposure to industry professionals and Microsoft's product ecosystem. Led a four-person team in the annual Hackathon focused on AI solutions, building a dermatology AI model capable of early detection of skin irregularities across multiple skin tones, accounting for bias in medical AI. Placed 2nd in the entire Microsoft Southern District.
Projects & Highlights
Led a team of four at Microsoft's BAM Hackathon to build an AI tool for early detection of skin irregularities. The model trained on diverse skin tone data to reduce diagnostic bias in existing medical AI systems. Organized roles, set daily deliverables, and guided the team from brainstorm to finished product in 72 hours.
Six-week intensive hands-on engineering program through the AUC Consortium covering mathematics fundamentals, engineering design principles, and real-world project coordination. Gained exposure to multiple engineering disciplines while touring Atlanta-based companies and preparing for advanced dual-degree coursework.
Four continuous years of service across churches in Texas and Brooklyn, including One Community Church (Plano) and Brooklyn Tabernacle. Handled door greeting, communion, traffic direction, youth center programming, and event setup. Used service as an anchor when navigating two cross-country moves.
Skills
Certifications Earned
Certification Roadmap
A deliberate progression from fundamentals to practitioner-level credentials, each step building on the last toward a career in offensive and defensive security.
Skills
Contact
I'm always open to internships, mentorship, research opportunities, and conversations with people doing interesting work in cybersecurity and emerging tech. Cybersecurity & Harvard CS certified professional.