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From the Tower of Terror to Cybersecurity Classrooms: Meet ACES Faculty Member Dina Haines

If you’ve ever ridden Disney’s Tower of Terror, you’ve experienced a small piece of Dina Haines’ career, even if you didn’t know it at the time. Before teaching cybersecurity and working at the forefront of national security, Haines was part of the design and build team behind the iconic attraction, helping ensure it was completed on time and on budget. While the project involved plenty of technology, her role wasn’t cyber-related; instead, it focused on coordination, problem-solving, and delivering results—skills that would later reappear throughout her career.

That same adaptability and breadth of experience now define Haines’ work with the University of Maryland’s ACES program, where she has been engaged for more than a decade as both an instructor and contributor through initiatives like Cyber Connect. She currently teaches HACS208C: Cybersecurity Communications in the Age of AI, a course that challenges students to think critically about the evolving intersection of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and communication. Although she now lives near Annapolis, Maryland, her professional journey has taken her across several U.S. states and even to London, England.

A Non-Linear Path into Cybersecurity

Haines’ education and career path defy the idea of a single, prescribed route into tech. She earned her undergraduate degree in Finance with a minor in Information Technology and later completed a master’s degree in Cybersecurity with a focus on Intelligence Analysis and Digital Forensics.

Her professional experience spans computer programming, project management, executive compensation, education at the elementary, middle, and college levels, intelligence analysis, digital forensics, cyber and network security, artificial intelligence, and partnerships. She even took a sabbatical year to work in motorsports, learning how challenging it is to organize an international, televised race in just 90 days. Each role, she says, contributed to skills she still uses today.

In her current role at the U.S. National Security Agency, Haines has spent the last five years advancing partnerships with academia and private industry to strengthen cybersecurity and artificial intelligence security. Her work supports the NSA’s mission to improve awareness, advance cybersecurity outcomes, and protect the nation. Alongside this role, she proudly serves as a lecturer in the ACES cybersecurity program, engaging with University of Maryland students each semester.

What Drew Her to Cybersecurity

Haines’ interest in cybersecurity began long before the term was widely used. Initially focused on “computer security,” she wanted to ensure that the systems she was coding wouldn’t fail, often by preventing users from unintentionally causing problems. Today, her perspective is broader and more human-centered. She thinks about ensuring that doctors and nurses can save lives without worrying about ransomware attacks shutting down hospital systems.

Her current interests include improving password security, an issue that has persisted for decades, and understanding the financial incentives behind cybercrime. She believes that eliminating the profitability of cyber attacks could fundamentally change the threat landscape.

In the Classroom: Learning Goes Both Ways

Haines describes her experience as an ACES professor as “amazing.” She credits her students’ curiosity and intelligence for pushing her to be a better educator and for sparking thoughtful debates, especially as artificial intelligence continues to advance. She reminds students that they are the future of cybersecurity and AI, and that the decisions they make and values they uphold will shape that future.

Advice for ACES Students

Haines encourages students to think broadly about how they present their experiences. Résumés don’t have to be limited to paid jobs—personal projects, apps, self-built and secured home networks, and teaching experiences all demonstrate curiosity and a willingness to learn. She also advises students to have backup plans when applying for internships, noting that continuing to explore opportunities can lead to multiple options rather than added stress.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Reflecting on her own journey, Haines wishes she had known earlier that her first job wouldn’t define her entire career. What once felt like overwhelming pressure now seems unnecessary. She encourages students to be open to how their careers unfold, even if the path looks different from what they originally imagined.

As she looks to the future, Haines places her confidence in the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. She believes ACES students—the “cyber warriors of tomorrow”—will tackle today’s toughest challenges and continue making the world a safer place. For Haines, being part of that mission through teaching and mentorship is both an honor and a privilege.


Published January 22, 2026