Photo courtesy of Cybersecurity National Alliance.
In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, three Penn State Berks degree programs — cybersecurity analytics and operations, security and risk analysis, and information technology programs — will join forces to host events to increase awareness about cybersecurity issues and best practices. These events are free, and each event is for a different audience, including students, faculty, staff, K-12 students and educators, senior citizens, and the community. Preregistration is required for some events.
Monday, Oct. 9, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 248
Talk: What is Quantum Information Science?
This event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required.
During this presentation, Robert Forrey, distinguished professor of physics at Penn State Berks and program director of Quantum Information Science, Division of Physics, at the National Science Foundation, will describe the Quantum Information Science (QIS) program at the National Science Foundation. He will provide an introduction and overview of quantum computing and discuss opportunities in the emerging fields of quantum information science and engineering (QISE) and quantum information science and technology (QIST).
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 247
Cybersecurity Career Pathways Panel
This event is open to Penn State Berks students, faculty, staff, and K-12 school counselors and administrators.
Alumni from the college’s information sciences and technology majors will discuss their background and experience working in cybersecurity careers. Participants include Amie Croteau, A/AI machine learning product owner, Lockheed Martin; Antonio Esposito, associate insider risk detection engineer, Pfizer; Michael Ference, systems architect, network/firewall administrator, PPL; and Allison Piech, enterprise information security ITLDP, CVS Health.
Friday, Oct. 20
Cyber Lions visit Phoebe Berks Retirement Community
This event is open only to residents of Phoebe Berks Retirement Community.
Cyber Lions, a Penn State Berks students organization dedicated to raising awareness of cybercrimes in the local community, will visit the Phoebe Berks Retirement Community to educate seniors about cybersecurity scams and teach them how to secure their devices. They will give a presentation, answer questions, and provide one-on-one assistance.
Monday, Oct. 18, and Monday, Oct. 25, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Thun Library
Cybersecurity Tips Tabling in Thun Library
This event is open to Penn State Berks students, faculty, and staff.
Student members of the Penn State Berks Technology Club will be available to provide information on best practices to protect information, privacy, and devices.
This event will be held in coordination with the Penn State Berks Privacy Workshop Series.
Monday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m., Zoom
Cloud Security Webinar
This event is free for Penn State Berks students and local industry professionals, but advanced registration is required.
This event will feature a keynote speaker from Amazon Web Services Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program.
For more information on any of the Cybersecurity Awareness Month events, contact Abdullah Konak, distinguished professor of information sciences and technology, at [email protected], or Tricia Clark, assistant teaching professor of information sciences and technology, at [email protected].
Penn State Berks offers baccalaureate programs in cybersecurity analytics and operations, information technology, and security and risk analysis.
The B.S. in cybersecurity analytics and operations program prepares students to protect digital information from attack through cyber-defense strategies. With a foundation in mathematics and computer programming, students will be prepared to recognize, analyze, defend against, and manage risks related to a wide range of threats to online information, data stores, and networks.
The B.S. in information technology offers both broad organizational problem-solving skills and in-depth knowledge of current, in-demand technical skills. Students develop an understanding of core information technologies and prepare for practical application. The combination of a strong technical foundation, well-developed communication and collaborative skills, business core competencies, and specialization in an area of choice produces graduates who are well-qualified to enter the workforce.
The B.S. in security and risk analysis (SRA) puts students on the front line in meeting threats to national security, responding to emergencies, and protecting vital knowledge. This major is offered with the information and cybersecurity option, which will help students build an understanding of network security, cyber-threat defense, information warfare, and critical infrastructure protection across multiple venues.
For more information on these degree programs, contact program chair Tricia Clark at [email protected].
