WYOMISSING, Pa. — In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, 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.
What is Quantum Information Science?
Monday, October 9, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 248
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 for Quantum Information Science, Division of Physics, 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).
Cybersecurity Career Pathways Panel
Wednesday, October 11, 12:15–1:15 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 247
This event is open to Penn State Berks students, faculty and 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.
Cyber Lions visit Phoebe Berks Retirement Community
Friday, October 20
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 cyber crimes 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.
Cybersecurity Tips Tabling in Thun Library
Monday, October 18 and Monday, October 25, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m., 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.
Cloud Security Webinar
Monday, October 23, 6 p.m., Zoom
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 auk3@psu.edu or Tricia Clark, assistant teaching professor of information sciences and technology at tkc3@psu.edu.
Cybersecurity and information technology programs at Penn State Berks
Penn State Berks offers baccalaureate programs in cybersecurity analytics and operations, information technology, and security and risk analysis.
The bachelor's degree 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 bachelor's degree in information technology offers both broad organizational problem-solving skills and in-depth knowledge in 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 bachelor's degree 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 to 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 tkc3@psu.edu.