The Texas Leadership Research Scholars Program, which debuted in Fall 2024, is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board research scholarship and leadership opportunity program for high-achieving graduate students with financial need.

UNT was among only nine public universities in the state selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the program, which awards selected doctoral researchers a nearly $18,000 scholarship renewable for up to four years.

“The TLRS program provides access and opportunity to exceptional doctoral scholars to excel in their research, academics and graduate life. The funding removes barriers for our scholars as they expand their career and life experiences to be readied for the workforce. This investment by the state of Texas is highly impactful and life-changing for UNT's doctoral students,” says Brenda Barrio, UNT associate vice president for graduate studies and student research.

Read Bryan Anderson's story below and check back on the UNT Research website throughout Summer 2026 to learn more about other students in the inaugural group of Texas Leadership Research Scholars.

Cybersecurity For All

Bryan Anderson remembers when the only access to technology he had growing up were the computers at the public library.

 “We would have to wait until others would get through with the computer,” Anderson recalls. “With libraries, there's a time limit on those computers, so you can't always get what you need to get done in 15 to 30 minutes. So you’re hoping that nobody is behind you so you can continue to use it. For me that access to resources was always a big issue.”

That issue has turned into research for his Ph.D. in information science that aims to find ways to educate the public on cybersecurity best practices in a way that is approachable and meets the individual user where they are to help bridge the digital divide.

“The digital divide is a gap between various communities,” Anderson explains. “One community can have multiple resources at their disposal, others may not.”

Communities that rely on public resources, such as public libraries, can face challenges such as limited access and the potential risks that come with entering sensitive information on a public computer. Anderson sees addressing the digital divide as more than just an issue of resources. It’s also about finding ways to effectively share best practices to help communities that rely on public resources use that technology safely.

“A lot of people don't have the savvy to realize when they put in a password that sometimes it automatically saves or they just save it, not realizing that's not a good idea, especially if you're using public systems.”

It’s a concept that has real-world implications for his own family.

“My mother is older now and she's more old school, so anything technology-related, she doesn’t want any part of it,” Anderson says. “I’m always trying to persuade her that it's not all bad, that there are these little things you can do to stay safe. Those types of issues are what make me passionate about the research that I'm focusing on.”

At the same time that he’s trying to help grow his mother’s digital literacy, he’s introducing his own children to the topic.

“Especially now with the kids using tablets and laptops in school,” Anderson says. “Now they have to remember passwords and they're getting more understanding of what I'm doing and what I'm trying to focus on as my research is coming along.”

Beyond his own family, Anderson implements focus groups and online surveys in order to get a better understanding of the wider public’s relationship with cybersecurity best practices. He says one of the biggest challenges has been avoiding IT industry jargon so he doesn’t risk alienating individuals who may have a hard time being willing to admit what they don’t know.

“I try to limit the amount of questions that I'm asking and try to make it as simple as possible,” Anderson says. “I even had to go back to the title of my survey because I had words in there some people don't understand. The terminology is not meeting people where they are. I just try to make it simple and more at ease for people to be comfortable with talking to me.”

He says that beyond the resources and additional support that comes with being named a Texas Leadership Research Scholar, the recognition of his research is especially validating.

“It was a tremendous honor,” Anderson says. “For scholarships like that, I don't take it for granted because, especially when you're in grad school, you have a lot on your plate and just being able to have somebody come in and see what I can bring to the table and help me out, that means a lot.”