Alyssa Todd is one of 12 people who received multiple nominations as a WashU IT 2024 Person of ImpacT award. As a “Person of ImpacT,” she personifies WashU IT’s ImpacT Strategic Plan, touching the lives of her coworkers in a meaningful way, engendering trust and respect.
Todd, a Business Analyst IV in the IT Portfolio and Performance Management Office, was the first person hired by Program Director Alesya Bernatskaya in the summer 2022 to pioneer what is now known as the InfoSec CyBear Program.
A Truman State University graduate with a bachelor’s in music and a master’s in education, Todd noted, “I’ve had a very strange journey. Before this, I was working at Charter focusing on e-commerce and data governance.”
During the COVID Pandemic, Todd took a break from tech and supported a local restaurant in St. Louis as a hospitality manager. Prior to that, she was a music teacher. She learned about the position she currently holds in IT and was excited about the prospect of working at Washington University in St. Louis, noting it was always an aspiration.
“Adjusting from teaching music to diving into cybersecurity seemed like a daunting challenge,” she said. But during those last three years, Todd has thrived.
In cybersecurity, she said she has found purpose and fulfillment, all while remaining connected to her roots and future aspirations.
“We all want a more secure environment, but we can’t do it by ourselves,” she said, noting the work the CyBear program has engaged in for the last three years has helped build a collaborative atmosphere that fosters awareness, shapes positive behaviors, and promotes a more supportive culture, ensuring a greater level of information security across the university.
Todd received four nominations for the IT-based award. One was made by Bernatskaya, who had this to say: “Alyssa has a unique ability to keenly understand program objectives and provide strategic vision. She champions the people around her, supporting her team members, fostering their growth, and earning their trust and respect.”
During her tenure at WashU, Todd said she has been inspired many leaders, naming three in particular, including Bernatskaya, as well as Chief Information Security Officer Chris Shull and former Chief of Staff to the Chief Information Officer, Russell Sharp, who retired in April 2024. All three leaders have a compassionate approach, offering a refreshing environment in which to work and grow.
“There are not a lot of leaders who can give vision without micromanaging,” she said. “This environment is refreshing. I have felt like I could be authentic, and everyone is very accepting of that. I’m very proud of that.”
Nominator Madison Bartkoski praised Todd for displaying the core values of ImpacT, adding: “She recognizes that customer perception is reality, and most importantly is always kind to others and leads with positive intent. She makes an impact on every person she works with on our projects.”