- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Cybersecurity Leader Earns Master’s Degree from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:38:11 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student has earned his master’s degree after advancing cybersecurity education for hundreds of students and teachers throughout Arkansas. Andrew Bomberger, of Hot Springs, will graduate with a master’s degree in computer science on Dec. 17. While he’s grown into one of the department’s leading students, Bomberger was originally on a very different career path before discovering his passion for cybersecurity. “I used to live in Pennsylvania, and my uncles owned a dairy farm,” he said. “I grew up thinking that I would do that for a living. I got to help on the farm and figured out it was something I wasn’t interested in. Around 2016, I saw a conference talk on cybersecurity and social engineering and thought it was really fascinating. I would love to be on the side that helps people configure devices, monitor networks, and help protect people from the bad people trying to break into their networks.” Bomberger joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2017 after seeing the many awards the university’s Cybersecurity Club had won. He joined the Cyber Arena project, a cloud-based cybersecurity education initiative, in 2019. The Cyber Arena provides free cybersecurity education, training, and exercises to Arkansas students and teachers. So far, more than 2,000 students have benefited from the Cyber Arena nationwide. “I’ve really enjoyed working on the Cyber Arena for the past four years,” he said. “When I started, I only knew bits and pieces about programming. This has been a great learning and networking experience, meeting a lot of professionals in the field. I’ve grown a lot as a person and a programmer from this project. I’ve enjoyed helping others learn more about cybersecurity, and I hope I’ve inspired other kids to go into the field.”

Photos of Andrew Bomberger by Ben Krain.

Although his professors have tried to get him to enroll in a doctorate program, Bomberger said he is finished with his education for now and has been interviewing for cybersecurity positions. His graduate project has taken his work in the Cyber Arena to the next level. He is building a cloud-based emulated red team network to provide advanced cybersecurity training for teachers and students. In cybersecurity, red teams consist of hackers who evaluate system security by acting as adversaries to overcome cybersecurity controls. Companies often hire hackers to test their network protections. “My project was focused on seeing if we could automate the attack process,” Bomberger said. “It was taking specific machines that have various attack scripts and injecting them into different controlled student networks. The idea behind all of it is that it would help emulate a more realistic environment for cybersecurity training. If we can place more weaknesses and attacks into the system, we can hopefully enhance learning as a long-term goal and make the experience more dynamic for students.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates Computer Science Educators

John Hill — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:23:59 +0000

It’s Computer Science Education Week, an annual call to celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners in the field. We are highlighting our innovative Department of Computer Science with an in-depth interview with Dr. Albert Baker, chair and professor since 2018. What is the current state of the department? We currently have 210 undergraduate majors, of which 46 are pursuing our new cybersecurity degree program. We also have 35 students in the MS in Computer Science program. When I started, we only had nine. We also have 15 doctoral students. With this growth in our graduate programs, we’ll see more of our graduate students moving on to academic as well as industry careers. With the initiatives we are undertaking to develop and promote our interactive immersive technologies (AR/VR) programs, I think we will begin to see solid growth in that area as well. What kind of opportunities are available in the department? Our programs open opportunities on two career paths. One is software developer, which is a pretty broad area that includes�� programming, software design, performance testing, quality assurance, etc. We also have a game option. The game industry is very competitive, but the skills our students get are applicable in interactive immersive technologies (AR/VR) applications in education and training, medical applications, and industrial design. There are an increasing number of opportunities for our students in this emerging area. We have much to highlight in this emerging area of interactive immersive technologies. The Emerging Analytics Center has fabulous facilities for hands-on development and research in that area. Drs. Ivan Conde, Arya Basu, and Jan Springer all have expertise in this area. This is an area of strength for the department, and I am happy about the opportunities that we provide students. I tell prospective students and their parents that we have good opportunities in interactive immersive technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, mobile applications, user interface and user experience, and computer graphics/data visualization. If a student has an interest in any of these areas, this is a great place to study. The opportunities for undergraduate students are particularly noteworthy because we have funded positions for students to work on grant funded research as well as industry projects. Those kinds of opportunities for undergraduate students are rare at other universities. How has the department changed since you started? Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, former director of the Emerging Analytics Center and former chair of the Department of Computer Science, asked me to develop a stronger sense of community in the department, particularly with undergraduate students. We restored the charter for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery. The ACM is the largest professional society for computing professionals. The dhapter is very active. One of their impactful service projects has been the program to refurbish donated computers and make them available at no cost to students through the COVID pandemic. They have placed over 90 machines repairing hard drives, reinstalling operating systems, and handing out computers to students who needed them. We have continued to innovate the department’s curriculum. In computer science, things are constantly changing. We’ve added courses accessible by students outside our department. For example, we will now have in the catalog a sophomore-level course that is an introduction to machine learning using a no-code environment. This means students who have no coding experience can take the course. One of the most important changes in the department has been the new degree in cybersecurity and some very important industry partnerships. Why has your department taken a lead in promoting cybersecurity education? We’ve been very strategic in the way we’ve laid a foundation for cybersecurity. Huge credit goes to Drs. Philip Huff and Erin Finzer for the creation of CyberLearn. (��Vlog��ý Little Rock received a $1.96 million workforce development grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development in the spring to form the Cyber Learning Network, a consortium of seven University of Arkansas System campuses to expand and diversify workforce education in emergent cyber technologies.) With CyberLearn, we are implementing a resource and course sharing network between the partner campuses. For example, if a ��Vlog��ýPB student needs to take a cybersecurity course this summer that is not being offered on that campus, they can register for that ��Vlog��ýPB course, pay ��Vlog��ýPB tuition fees, and actually take the course offered here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. In addition, with the addition of the National Cyber Teaching Academy funded, in part, by a grant from the NSA, we are training high school teachers so they can teach cybersecurity in Arkansas high schools. The State of Arkansas is requiring one credit in computer science as a graduation requirement for all students starting with the Fall 2023 freshman class. Cybersecurity is one of the ADE-approved computer science pathways meeting this requirement. We have a partnership with cyber industry leader and have really good outreach to the cyber industry in Arkansas. I’m excited about the holistic strategic approach we are taking with cybersecurity training and workforce development. What is coming up for the future of the computer science department? Certainly, cybersecurity will continue to grow and progress rapidly. We are also receiving tremendous feedback on our interactive immersive technologies initiatives. The Emerging Analytics Center (EAC) has been recognized as one of the top AR/VR research and development labs in the country. Between the EAC and the Cyber Arena, we are offering students opportunities unique in the State of Arkansas and beyond. What else would you like to add? I’m proud of the way the department office is running now. Chris Thompson (administrative assistant III) has been fantastic. I would also give a shoutout to Seth Cook who has worked as a GA in the office for the last three years and maintains our social media presence and department website. We are now much more organized and efficient through their efforts. Being in Arkansas has been a productive place to work in that I’ve had an opportunity to meet people at levels that I wouldn’t have had access to in larger states. Lee Watson, CEO, Forge Institute, and Bill Yoder, Executive Director of , are at the top of the list. They are doing tremendous work. Tina Moore and Kelly Griffith at the Arkansas Department of Education are also great to work with. These are just some of the talented Arkansans I’ve had opportunities to work with. The Industrial Advisory Board of the department is proving to be a tremendous asset as well�� and providing excellent guidance to me and the department. Brian Stack, Chief Scientist & Cofounder, LeapXL, chairs our advisory board. I appreciate the leadership he is providing. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the State of Arkansas are proving to be fertile places to develop innovative, state-of-the-art programs and initiatives in the computing sciences that will help us develop a future-ready workforce. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity I’ve had to serve the Department, College, University, and State of Arkansas.

U.S. News and World Report Recognizes ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for Undergraduate Education

John Hill — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 18:22:30 +0000

U.S. News and World Report has recognized the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for being a top university in social mobility for its students as well as for its excellent academic programs in nursing, business, engineering, and computer science. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has once again been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a continued leader in social mobility Arkansas with a ranking of #197. The ranking measures a university’s success in graduating economically disadvantaged students who are less likely to finish college. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to providing an affordable college education for its students with a focus on student success initiatives and a competitive scholarship portfolio. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock continues to prioritize student success while simultaneously improving access to higher education,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “Given the increase in students choosing to enroll at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, the increase in student retention rates, and the decrease in the net price of attendance, it is no surprise that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been recognized with this social mobility ranking.” The social mobility indicator measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. The social mobility ranking was computed by assessing Pell Grant graduation rates and Pell Grant graduate rate performance. U.S. News rankings are widely recognized as symbols of excellence in higher education that are conferred by an unbiased trust agent. With more than 15 measures of academic quality, the U.S. News Best Colleges report provides data-driven information and guidance to help prospective students and their families understand their higher education options. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s in U.S. News and World Report 2022-23 Best College Rankings include:

Best Undergraduate Engineering #184
Best Undergraduate Nursing #206
Best Undergraduate Business #219
Best Undergraduate Computer Science #234

The Department of Computer Science ranking is up 18 spots over last year. Initially accredited in 1990 and the first Computer Science program accredited in the state, the program offers a minor in information insurance, a bachelor’s degree in computer science with an option that focuses on games, a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, a master’s degree in computer science, and a Ph.D. in computer and information science. Students study a wide range of in-demand fields including cybersecurity, virtual and augmented reality, data visualization, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and mobile, smart systems, and software for Internet of Things. While ��Vlog��ý Little Rock began its first bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity last year, the university was already a proven leader in cybersecurity education and workforce development in the state. Earlier this year, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock received a $1.96 million workforce development grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development to create the , a consortium of seven University of Arkansas System campuses to expand and diversify workforce education in emergency cyber technologies throughout the state. The Cyber Learning Network began offering a new certificate of proficiency in cybersecurity fundamentals this fall with a second certificate program due to start in the spring 2023 semester. “The undergraduate computer science programs again being recognized in the U.S. News and World Report rankings is a credit to the faculty and teaching staff in the Department of Computer Science,” said Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science. “The commitment and energy of these scholars to the nurturing of our student’s professional careers is leading to our continued success. Undergraduate students in the department have unique opportunities to participate in funded research and development projects. We are proud that our students are well-prepared to join the workforce in Arkansas and beyond.” The School of Nursing, the university’s largest undergraduate program, has a variety of well-respected undergraduate degree programs, including the Student to RN, Student to BSN, Online RN to BSN, and LPN/Paramedic to RN. “The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Nursing continues the tradition of being a leader in nursing education in Arkansas,” said Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the School of Nursing at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We are proud to be recognized again by U.S. News and World Reports as one of the best undergraduate nursing programs in the country.” Joanna Hall, director of simulation and assistant professor of nursing, has recently become the first person at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to earn the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator certification. Hall leads the Center for Simulation Innovation, a 20-bed state-of-the-art simulation hospital offering simulation-based clinical learning experiences within a 9,500 square foot facility. The center ensures students graduate having experienced a variety of scenarios they will likely face in the nursing profession. This July, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock launched the new School of Engineering and Engineering Technology to bring together the university’s competitive engineering programs. The school includes the university’s programs in electronics and computer engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, mechanical engineering, and electrical and computer engineering. “It is a great achievement for engineering programs at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to be ranked 184 out of so many qualified ABET-accredited engineering programs,” said Dr. Srikanth Pidugu, director of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. “This recognition demonstrates the commitment of the faculty to teaching, research, and service excellence and the high caliber of undergraduate students.�� It is a fantastic accomplishment considering that the engineering programs started only a little over two decades back.” The School of Business serves as a catalyst to advance education and economic development in the state of Arkansas. “The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock business program produces undergraduates with well-developed business acumen and refined technical skill sets which are in high demand in business,” said Dr. Robert Mitchell, director of the School of Business at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Over 85% of our graduates are employed upon graduation, and 85% of our alumni indicate their degree as a contributing factor in their career advancement. Business graduates indicate the required high impact experiential learning experience in their program of studies helps them make a smooth transition into the workforce.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates Holiday Season with Launch of Holiday Wish List Campaign

John Hill — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:50:30 +0000

It’s now the most wonderful time of the year, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is celebrating the season by launching the Holiday Wish List Campaign to meet the needs of the students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “The Holiday Wish List is a unique opportunity for donors to see how their gift directly impacts a student’s life,” said Samantha Wiley, director of annual giving. “Often, donors give and never see their contribution at work or know precisely how the funds are used. With this giving campaign, donors know, for example, that their $100 to the School of Public Affairs will be used to purchase textbooks for students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.” You can give the gift of education by visiting and donating to a worthy cause that will promote student success and retention at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. All wishes are made directly by students and faculty at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The Holiday Wish List Campaign runs through Dec. 31, and all gifts are tax deductible. One of the great Holiday Wish List Campaigns is raising money to send 25 students in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choirs to perform at Carnegie Hall in June 2022. This once-in-a-lifetime trip will be the first time ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students have performed in Carnegie Hall. “To say that singing in New York has been a lifelong dream of mine is a complete understatement,” said Kaitlyn Kendrick, a music performance major and Choral Ensemble member. “Ever since I was a little girl, I imagined myself performing all over New York and to be able to experience such a high honor like singing in Carnegie Hall is more than I could have imagined I would be doing in my early career. Music has always been my passion, and this is one of the greatest things that could happen for a young singer. We appreciate any and all support to come to help us grant so many student’s wishes to come true.” Other Holiday Wish List Campaigns include fighting food insecurity by with the , helping students in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology , iPads to help future and complete medical simulations in the Center for Simulation Innovation, and new computers for and students.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman Visits ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, NuShores Biosciences

John Hill — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 18:28:29 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and its spinoff company, NuShores Biosciences, received a visit from Sen. John Boozman Oct. 29 to check out the ongoing research and scientific advancements at the institutions. Sen. Boozman first visited NuShores Biosciences to get a firsthand look at innovative labs and projects underway in central Arkansas. NuShores CEO Sharon Ballard and Dr. Alex Biris, director of the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, gave the senator a tour of the facility and reviewed the initiatives to commercialize the bone and tissue regeneration technologies. “I’m grateful for Sen. Boozman’s support of NuShores and our licensor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” Ballard said. “He asked great questions and enjoyed discussing our science and manufacturing efforts with our team. It was quite the energy boost to have a sitting senator take such interest and encouragement in our work!” Sen. Boozman also learned about the manufacturing processes for the NuCress Bone Scaffold that has been developed at NuShores with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Army Medical Command. “NuShores is doing groundbreaking work to help improve bone regeneration technology, and I enjoyed getting to learn more about its operation and research, which could ultimately help prevent amputations,” Sen. Boozman said. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, the senator toured the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), the Emerging Analytics Center (EAC), and the Cyber Arena in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to see the amazing projects taking place in information science, computer science, cybersecurity, and augmented and virtual reality. “Sen. Boozman’s visits are always a delight,” said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of STEM. “We appreciate his support of the vital research at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the manner in which he engages us to ensure that we are providing impact for all Arkansans.” Sen. Boozman and his staff have worked with the university for the last several years in helping secure federal funding for many of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s research projects focused on national security. “The important research conducted at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is leading to breakthroughs and discoveries that enable us to better safeguard our country against emerging threats,” Sen. Boozman said. “I’m proud to support the development of innovative strategies advanced by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock researchers that offer solutions to enhance our national security and preparedness.” In , Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science and director of COSMOS, shared how his research team is using social media analysis to defend against global disinformation threats. One example is COSMOS’ in partnership with the Arkansas Attorney General’s office. COSMOS’ research is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. “We deeply appreciate Sen. Boozman for his unwavering support to the research conducted at COSMOS for strengthening the social and cognitive security apparatus that is furthering the U.S. Department of Defense’s mission, particularly enhancing force protection and operation security against adversarial information operations,” Agarwal said. “During the visit, Senator Boozman inspired and encouraged to keep up the groundbreaking research that is of national and strategic importance.” In the Cyber Arena, Sen. Boozman met several students enrolled in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s new cybersecurity degree program, which is working to fill the gap of qualified cybersecurity professionals needed to protect network security throughout the country. “We appreciate Sen. Boozman’s work to bring cybersecurity workforce development and research opportunities to Arkansas. Our students have tremendous talent and creativity in developing solutions to defend the nation, and the senator works hard to continue providing them with opportunities to make use of those talents.” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has received numerous grants and created partnerships for workforce education and cybersecurity. These grants are helping ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to provide K-12 cybersecurity education to students in Arkansas, the country’s first graduate certificate in cybersecurity education, and a for first responders.

Sen. John Boozman visits with Dr. Alex Biris and other workers at NuShores Biosciences.

“The State of Arkansas is providing outstanding support for research and teaching in computer science and cybersecurity,” said Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Science. “The federal support Sen. Boozman has secured for productive research programs at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is producing actionable results for the state and the nation. We are genuinely appreciative that the senator took the time to review the funded research projects.” Dr. Jan Springer, director of the , discussed the work the center is doing to enhance the nation’s border security. “Our team in the Emerging Analytics Center showcased their work on automated detection of organic threats in x-ray scans for Sen. Boozman,” Springer said. “Throughout this project, the senator has emphasized the importance of innovating border security and has helped us tremendously in securing funding for developing tools and techniques to meet this national priority.”

Internet Safety Month Student Profile: Benjamin Miller

John Hill — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:52:48 +0000

In celebration of Internet Safety Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling student researchers working in this area.�� Tell us about yourself. My name is Benjamin Miller. I am from Cabot, and my major is cybersecurity. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because of the scholarship opportunities and because I heard good things about the engineering and computer science programs. What do you find interesting about your major? I find security interesting. The fact that even a single person can have a huge impact on security is really interesting. I think that penetration testing is an interesting side of the field. Social engineering is a really interesting side of penetration testing because of the fact that it is a people skill in a computer-based field. What kind of research and projects are you working on at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that are related to internet safety? I am working at the Cyber Gym. I work on the various workouts that schools use to educate people in cybersecurity. Since June is Internet Safety Month, do you have any advice for how people can keep themselves safe online? I would say that not clicking on random links, and checking that people are who they say they are on social media is really important.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Cybersecurity Summit for junior high and high school students

John Hill — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:00:36 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a virtual event for junior high and high school students who want to learn more about the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity.�� The free Cybersecurity Summit event is open to any students in grades 6-12 and will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Students will hear from a panel of cybersecurity experts about what it’s like to work in one of the most in-demand careers. Participants will also hear about educational opportunities in cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ��Vlog��ý-Pulaski Technical College. “The Cybersecurity Summit is one way ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the Department of Computer Science are introducing young people in the state to this exciting, in-demand area,” said Dr. Albert Baker, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. “Our national security and the security of our institutions are increasingly dependent on our cybersecurity workforce.” Students will also get the opportunity to conduct a hands-on cyber attack simulation with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Gym, an education laboratory for cybersecurity learning. The winner will receive a Cyber Gym hoodie! “The summit is a great opportunity for students who are interested in cybersecurity as a potential career, who want to learn more about the field in general, or would like to test their skills with a fun and challenging cybersecurity work out in the Cyber Gym,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the Cyber Gym. The field of computer science is growing more important in Arkansas. A 2015 measure Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law requires every public high school to offer computer science. Earlier this month, the Arkansas Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force that the state require a credit in computer science in order to graduate high school and that every public high school have a computer science teacher. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a new bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity that begins in the fall 2021 semester. Now is a great time for students to consider cybersecurity as a career since there is a high demand for cybersecurity professionals with a high starting salary. “October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Arkansas students need to know about the great opportunities available in this career field,” Baker said. “The average starting salary for an entry-level cybersecurity job in the U.S. is $73,000. The need is critical and the career opportunities tremendous.” Students who would like to attend the Cybersecurity Summit can fill out to register.

Profiles in Cybersecurity: Andrew Bomberger

John Hill — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 15:42:11 +0000

To celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is profiling those in the Trojan community who are involved in cybersecurity. First up is future cybersecurity professional Andrew Bomberger, a senior majoring in computer science from Hot Springs who works as a student researcher and developer in the Cyber Gym. Please tell us about yourself.�� I am originally from a small town in Pennsylvania and moved to Hot Springs in late 2009 to be closer to family and friends. While I do enjoy playing volleyball, my favorite pastime outside of computers is traditional archery. Being outside where it’s just you, your bow, and the target can be very calming and is a great way for me to relax my mind. What do you plan to do after you graduate?�� My goal is to get a job as a cybersecurity professional either here in Arkansas or in the Louisville, Kentucky, area. What is your experience with the cybersecurity field?�� Being at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock really opened doors to me that I didn’t think were possible. I’ve been privileged and grateful to be a part of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Gym and the work that they are doing to teach cybersecurity to high schools across the state.�� I’m also currently involved in the Cybersecurity Club at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where not only do we discuss and learn about current issues and techniques, but also participate in cybersecurity themed competitions such as CCDC, JOLT, NCL, and my personal favorite, Defcon’s OpenSOC CTF. What made you want to get involved with cybersecurity?�� I never knew that cybersecurity was the field that I wanted to work in until I saw a presentation about cell phone hacking around five years ago. That demonstration really opened my eyes to all that was possible and made me want to help protect others from making the same mistakes. Now the more involved I get in cybersecurity, the more interesting it gets. It’s exciting to think about where we could be in the next few years. How important do you think cybersecurity is and why? Why is now a good time to work in cybersecurity?�� As long as the internet exists, there will always be a need for cybersecurity. Especially now so that almost every piece of data about a person exists on the internet. From medical bills and tax information to social media profiles. The need to secure these vectors is immense.�� October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. What are a few pieces of advice the average person can do to protect themselves from cyber attacks?�� If something seems suspicious, it probably is. Avoid it. To go even further, a good practice to follow is “confirmation.” If you receive a suspicious message telling you to do something, try contacting the person or company directly to verify that the message is legitimate before acting upon any contents in the message.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to offer new bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity

John Hill — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:02:20 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is introducing a new four-year degree program in cybersecurity in the fall 2021 semester to help meet the rising demand for cybersecurity professionals.�� The Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity will prepare students for challenging and rewarding careers dedicated to protecting the privacy of individuals, the security of society’s infrastructure, and national security. Graduates will be prepared for positions in high-demand fields, including security architect, digital forensics analyst, security systems administrator, and security analyst. “The Department of Computer Science has been actively involved in research and teaching in cybersecurity and information assurance for about 10 years,” said Dr. Albert Baker, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. “The addition of a B.S. in cybersecurity is an exciting evolution of the department’s commitment to this aspect of national security. We are coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Education, representatives from Arkansas military contingents, and area industry leaders in the development of this program. Graduates of this program will be protecting all aspects of our digital lives.” The new degree program will attract more government and industry jobs to the region, while helping to fill a growing need for more trained cybersecurity professionals. The estimates that there will be 1.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2022. “Cybersecurity is a part of the daily lives of corporations, governments, and, now with many working from home, a part of our home lives,” said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “Our outstanding faculty are able to provide cutting edge classes and equip the cybersecurity professionals of the future. I look forward to the first graduates of this program.” With the recent rise of people working at home as well as the rise in unemployment across the country, cybersecurity is more important than ever to protect online security as well as a great option for adults looking to learn new skills in a growing field. “The studies show an expected deficit of millions of jobs in cybersecurity around the world,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of computer science and coordinator of the cybersecurity program. “The regional need for cybersecurity professionals is strong, and it’s not something that can be easily outsourced. The workforce needs far exceed the capacity of universities to prepare enough graduates to fill the need for cybersecurity jobs. Every university is and should be looking at how to prepare students to be competitive in the cybersecurity arena.” Students will also have the opportunity to work in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Gym, a state-of-the-art, cloud-based lab that provides a scalable, accessible, and almost no-cost cybersecurity curriculum for high school students in Arkansas.

Philip Huff, left, and Sandra Leiterman, right, head the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Gym. Photo by Ben Krain.

“Philip Huff and the cyber team at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock have been great to work with,” said Lee Watson, CEO and founder of the Forge Institute as well as a member of the state’s Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force. “The Cyber Gym is a next-generation academic training program that will help prepare Arkansas students for much needed, high-paying jobs in cybersecurity.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has partnered with the Forge Institute to create workforce development and research opportunities as well as to provide internship opportunities for college students. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock and The American Cyber Alliance powered by Forge Institute are building some best practices that can be replicated across Arkansas, our region, and nation,” Watson said. “Collaboration in operational research is opening doors for a variety of opportunities. These efforts in training and operations will help better position our companies and our State to defend against growing adversarial threats.” The new degree also builds upon Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s emphasis on computer science in K-12 education. Students who had the opportunity to take computer science classes for years are now entering college and eager to continue their studies in a challenging and engaging curriculum. “Undergraduate students being able to do research on computer science and computing technologies, such as with Phillip Huff at the Cyber Gym and their Cybersecurity Program, is really something that should promote institutions like ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and their programs above those that are not doing research, that are not engaging in those activities that give their students a meaningful reason for the work they’re doing,” said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science at the Arkansas Department of Education. “It’s really the difference between the theoretical approach to computer science education that I received versus a hands-on and applicable approach to teaching computer science and its important concepts.”

To The Rescue: ��Vlog��ý Little Rock gamers create simulation about saving dogs at rescue shelters

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 13:57:56 +0000

Two University of Arkansas at Little Rock students are raising awareness of animal rescue shelters while creating a fun, interactive game that will melt your heart.�� is a dog shelter simulation game that allows players to understand the ins and out of running a dog rescue shelter. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate students and best friends Olivia Dunlap and Tanner Marshall have been working on the game as a pet project for the past 2 ½ years. Dunlap and Marshall are roommates and the proud pet parents of a dog jovially named Keanu Reeves. “We were walking to class one day, and Olivia pointed out that there are a lot of interesting emotional decisions to make if you create a game about running a dog shelter,” Marshall said. “You have limited resources, limited time, and you have to help as many animals as you can while making some hard decisions.” In the game, a player is the sole volunteer who is responsible for running the shelter, taking care of the dogs, and making sure they are adopted into their forever homes.�� “The goal is to keep the shelter open for as long as possible and to get as many dogs adopted as possible,” Dunlap said. “You rely on donations to keep the shelter open. Some dogs have certain health or behavioral issues that make it more expensive to take care of them. People come in looking for specific things that will affect how likely they are to adopt.” The player also has to make tough decisions that Marshall and Dunlap admit can be heart-wrenching. “One of the game’s unexpected challenges is disease outbreaks,” Marshall said. “Your shelter can be running along fine and suddenly you get a heartworm outbreak that is very expensive to treat. You suddenly have to make a decision about if you have enough money to treat all the dogs, or if you might have to euthanize the dogs if you don’t have enough money to keep the shelter open while treating all the dogs. That’s a good example of the kind of emotional decisions you have to make. It’s sad and it’s part of why we wanted to make the game. Someone out there has to make these decisions and help as many animals as they can. It’s good for a potential pet adopter to think about these things.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate students Tanner Marshall (left) and Olivia Dunlap (right) are developing a dog rescue video game, “To The Rescue.” Photo by Ben Krain.

Although there is a child-friendly mode for younger players, the game makers feel it’s important to raise awareness about the issues faced at rescue shelters. “It’s a fun game, but we didn’t want to shy away from some of the issues that people might be unaware of,” Dunlap said. “We want to raise awareness for animal shelters. That’s why we will donate 20 percent of the profits to animal shelters.” The game was created with Joseph Williams, associate professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, who worked on sound design, and Byron Buslig, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumnus who served as the game’s artist.�� “Part of our journey was seeking out like-minded people, and Joseph Williams was the most influential person in that regard,” Marshall said. “We have done several independent studies with him. That is how we met Byron, working on a small independent game prototype. That is how we were able to get a game-oriented education. Having access to the CRUX lab in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing has been invaluable. We are happy that it is here on campus since the workspace really helps us to develop our games.” The game creators will launch a Kickstarter campaign for “To The Rescue” on Aug. 6, where they hope to raise enough money to complete the game and manufacture the first orders. “To The Rescue” is expected to be available on PC and Mac OS computers in early 2020. The game is available to add to your .

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