IAPP Launches Annual Westin Scholar Awards to Encourage Students to Explore the Field of Privacy and Data Protection

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – December 7, 2020 - The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), the world’s largest and most comprehensive global information privacy community and resource, announced the launch of the annual Westin Scholar Awards. With the growing need for well-qualified privacy and data protection professionals, the annual Westin Scholar Awards will support students who consider a career in privacy and data protection. The launch of the Awards is a part of the IAPP’s 20th anniversary events and serves as a way to celebrate and advance the IAPP’s mission to define, promote and improve the privacy profession globally.

The Westin Scholar Awards pay homage to the late Dr. Alan Westin, a foundational voice in the field of privacy and data protection. Throughout his life, Dr. Westin researched and wrote about privacy, data protection, digital identity and the future of how societies will deal with issues at the intersection of law and technology. He is the namesake for the IAPP Westin Research Center and Fellowship Program, which was founded in 2013 and serves as a pathway for future leaders in the community.

“The privacy profession is fast growing and constantly evolving. We’ve created these awards as a way to encourage students to enter this growing field and explore potential career opportunities,” said J. Trevor Hughes, IAPP President and CEO. “It is our hope that these awards will help students identify and enroll in privacy and data protection courses and programs. There is no shortage of privacy or data protection career opportunities in management, law, technology and engineering.”
Participating institutions will each select one student annually who will be awarded a Westin Scholar Award. Each student recipient will be awarded the following:

  • A $1,000 cash award
  • A copy of the book “Privacy and Freedom”, by Dr. Alan Westin
  • 2 years of membership with the IAPP
  • 3 complimentary exams for IAPP certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT)
  • Unlimited access to online training for recipient’s selected IAPP certification exams

To view a full list of the institutions participating in this program, please visit click here.

To be considered for inclusion, a school may reach out directly IAPP’s Research Manager, Margaret Honda (mhonda@iapp.org).

For more information regarding the Awards and the requirements, please visit: www.iapp.org/westin-research-center/higher-education/.

About the IAPP

The International Association of Privacy Professionals is the largest and most comprehensive global information privacy community and resource. Founded in 2000, the IAPP is a not-for-profit organization that helps define, promote and improve the privacy profession globally. More information about the IAPP is available at iapp.org.

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