- 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 Receives $150,000 NSA Grant to Host Cybersecurity Educational Program Across Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 12:50:05 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a nearly $150,000 grant from the National Security Agency to hold a year’s worth of free cybersecurity educational events for junior high and high school students in Arkansas. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will partner with Philander Smith College to host the 2nd Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training camp in Arkansas, which will support the state’s long-term investment in secondary school cybersecurity education. The grant will fund a free two-week cybersecurity summer camp at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in July 2023. In addition to the summer camp, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will host a series of quarterly education events designed as escape rooms with cybersecurity challenges to get Arkansas students excited about cybersecurity education. Those working on the grant include Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena, and Dr. Suzan Anwar, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate, assistant professor, and department chair of computer science at Philander Smith College. The Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training program will be offered at no cost to up to 100 rising 7th-12th grade students in Arkansas. There will be both a virtual and in-person camp option so that students from across the state can participate even if they are unable to travel to Little Rock. Students will also participate in hands-on activities in cyber attacks and defense provided through ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Cyber Arena, which already provides cloud-based cybersecurity labs to more than 500 virtual students in Arkansas. “Students will learn how to think like a hacker and stop cyber criminals in their tracks,” Leiterman said. “Each day will feature a world-renowned expert speaker in cybersecurity and the top hands-on cybersecurity training in the region. We will bring partners from industry, academia, and professional development organizations to provide multiple pathways to a cybersecurity career.” This two-week camp focuses on the GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts. Participants will hear from industry experts about career opportunities and will learn about cybersecurity with state-of-the art hands-on activities that allows the students to experience cyberattacks from both the victim and adversary side. “I will teach portions of the camp, provide assistance to the teachers teaching the camp, assist in content and curriculum development to ensure it is relevant and unbiased to the target audience,” Anwar said. “Philander Smith College undergraduate student researchers will assist with camp preparation and develop cybersecurity labs and the GenCyber escape room used for outreach activities.” Those interested in the GenCyber programming should for more information.

Arkansas Teachers Learning to Educate Students in Cybersecurity from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ADE

John Hill — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:08:12 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, along with Arkansas Tech University (ATU), has been selected as a co-host for the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Educator Academy (CSCEA). The program, which is overseen by the , will provide free tuition for up to 60 Arkansas educators to complete a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as well as advanced computer science training from the ADE. A grant in excess of $800,000 from the ADE will provide tuition and fees for teachers to take 18 graduate-level hours in computer science and cybersecurity. Participants must be Arkansas residents who are employed by an Arkansas public school district or intend to teach within an Arkansas public school district. “We are excited that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has joined Arkansas Tech University as a partner for the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Educator Academy,” said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science education for the Arkansas Department of Education. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s cybersecurity track adds a greatly needed focus area. We are eager to work with the educators engaging in this opportunity as they take this knowledge back to their schools, communities, and students to develop the cyber literate workforce required for today’s constantly connected world.” The CSCEA provides Arkansas residents with a starting point for new teachers to be successful by learning basic computer science; receive preparation for passing the Computer Science Content Knowledge Praxis exam; gain approval to teach high school computer science courses; earn up to 18 graduate-level credits in cybersecurity; and expand skills in specialized areas. The CSCEA expands the number of Arkansas high school teachers who can receive support for graduate-level coursework in teaching cybersecurity. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will be one of the first universities in the country to offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education through the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy, a collaboration of 10 institutions in nine states. It is funded by a $750,000 grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, located within the National Security Agency (NSA). ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate certificate is pending approval by the ��Vlog��ý Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Higher Learning Commission approvals. “The National Cyber Teaching Academy is the first of its kind in the nation,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena and co-principal investigator on the grant. “The state of Arkansas is providing an incredible opportunity for its teachers to earn graduate education in computer science and cybersecurity. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate certificate will provide teachers with the content knowledge they need to teach dedicated cybersecurity courses in high school, as well as courses for high school concurrent credit. This education will help teachers prepare so many of our high school students for future careers in the in-demand field of cybersecurity.” The ADE Office of Computer Science will provide 90 hours of training for participants. This consists of 60 hours of content for candidates who haven’t passed the Computer Science Content Knowledge Praxis exam and 30 hours of advanced training that varies based on the participant’s interests and needs. Participants who complete the initial 90 hours of training will be awarded six hours of graduate-level computer science credit and are eligible to have tuition and fees covered for 12 additional graduate hours at their selected public university partner. “This initiative demonstrates ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s commitment to partnering with ADE and other state leaders in education and the cyber industry to create a coordinated ecosystem of cybersecurity career and educational pathways for P-20 (pre-K through graduate school) learners,” said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. “As we work with educational providers, government agencies, non-profits, and industry to grow Arkansas’s knowledge economy, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will implement this model in other high-demand, high-paying fields as we work with partners in education, government, non-profits, and industry to grow Arkansas’s knowledge economy.” Educators who attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in this program will become part of the National Cyber Teaching Academy, the first NSA graduate certificate program for high school cybersecurity educators in the country. Graduates will receive a graduate certificate that will allow them to teach high school concurrent credit courses for cybersecurity and computer science in Arkansas and beyond. “This grant will put Arkansas at the top in the nation for the percentage of high school students choosing a cybersecurity profession,” said Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We have the potential to develop a network of over 60 schools in Arkansas that can offer an advanced course in cybersecurity for college credit. It’s another example of Arkansas becoming a national trendsetter in computer science education.” Educators who choose this track will begin classes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock either in the summer or fall, depending on their schedule, and will complete the graduate certificate by December 2023. Courses will include Teaching Cybersecurity, Foundations in Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Operations, and Cybersecurity Practicum. Members of the Arkansas Cyber Teaching Academy will also have access to a network of more than 100 high school cybersecurity teachers nationwide, receive practicum experience in a real cybersecurity operations environment, and have access to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena and its library of hands-on attack and defense scenarios tailed to the curriculum. “Both the breadth and depth of the cybersecurity initiatives that Dr. Huff and Ms. Leiterman are leading for the Department of Computer Science establish ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a national leader in cyber defense,” said Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Along with outstanding and well-funded research, they are developing programs to serve ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and Arkansas K-12 students, Arkansas teachers, the Arkansas workforce, and the economic development of the state.” Any teachers who would like to apply for the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Educator . The ADE Office of Computer Science will host an informational webinar with representatives from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ATU for interested participants from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 24. Those interested may register for the event .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Will Offer Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Education Through National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy

John Hill — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 13:43:50 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $750,000 grant from the , located within the National Security Agency, and will be one of the first universities in the country to offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education through the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy is a collaboration of 10 institutions in nine states that will offer the first credentialing program for high school cybersecurity education in the country. The inaugural program will prepare 90 high school teachers to teach an advanced cybersecurity course. “Providing these educational resources to our partners at the secondary level strengthens our fight against cyber crime while attracting more students into a reliable and exciting career pipeline,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “The demand for cybersecurity professionals shows no sign of slowing down as more businesses become increasingly dependent on technology.” Teachers who are accepted into the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy will receive funding covering tuition for the 12-credit hour virtual graduate certificate. Teachers who complete the academy will also have the option to complete six additional credit hours that will certify them to teach dual/concurrent enrollment cybersecurity courses. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy is an excellent fit with Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s and the Arkansas Department of Education’s efforts to make K-12 computer science education a priority. “With the increasingly complex cyberthreats our nation has endured and will continue to face, it is the responsibility of our state and schools to produce students prepared to defend our systems against those threats,” said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science education at the Arkansas Department of Education. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has remained a great partner to the Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Initiative since it was started by Governor Hutchinson in 2015. The announcement of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock team seeking out and being awarded a federal grant which will provide cybersecurity training to Arkansas high school teachers is another example of their continued and innovative commitment to the initiative, our educators, and students of Arkansas.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of only three universities in the country who will offer the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy, along with the University of Louisville and DePaul University. Each university has a regional college and community college partner who will help with curriculum development and teacher recruitment. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s partners are California State University, Sacramento and Estrella Mountain Community College. “This is a great opportunity for high school teachers,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “They will get experience in a new subject where expert knowledge is required. Teachers who complete the academy will come back with real-world experience in teaching cybersecurity classes, an in-depth understanding of cybersecurity, and great materials for their future courses. The program will help teachers provide students with opportunities in one of the fastest growing careers in the country.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students demonstrate the universitys cloud-based cybersecurity lab, the Cyber Arena. Photo by Ben Krain.

The academy’s partner institutions will also work with DARK Enterprises, a nonprofit that specializes in cybersecurity education at the secondary education level. The coalition will provide opportunities to build pathways toward dual/concurrent enrollment and 2+2 programs with high schools. The graduate certificate program is grounded in the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines, the development of which was pioneered by DARK Enterprises and the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation. This will move high school cybersecurity education toward a more standardized body of knowledge to build courses and pathways. The first cohort of the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy will begin with an Introduction to Cybersecurity Education course in the spring 2022 semester followed by six credit hours during summer 2022. In their second summer, teachers will study the working environment for cybersecurity professionals and complete a practicum with local industry partners to gain real-world experience. Cybersecurity remains one of the most in-demand careers in the country. This new graduate certificate will help fill the gap for cybersecurity professionals in the state. “Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field, in which the need for qualified employees is far outpacing the number of available candidates,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the Cyber Arena. “One way to address this shortage is by increasing awareness and interest in cybersecurity by providing high school students with the fundamental knowledge they need in order to pursue a career in cybersecurity. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy will help to bridge the gap between the job demand and the size of the workforce needed to fill the vacancies.” People may register to receive more information , or contact Jenny Daugherty at jenny.daugherty@darkenterprisesinc.com for questions about the program.

Forge Institute Partners with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Cyber Arena to support NSA-sponsored Cybersecurity Summer Camp in Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:45:14 +0000

The has announced a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s , the cybersecurity-focused lab within the Department of Computer Science. The initiative will support the first National Security Agency (NSA)-sponsored GenCyber Summer Camp in Arkansas for 7th-12th graders. The free cybersecurity summer camp is part of an initiative that brings educators, industry, and state leaders together to drive interest and long-term investment in secondary school cybersecurity education. It is funded by a $100,000 grant from the NSA. “This program provides students with an engaging experience,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This unique camp ensures a fun time for students at all levels of technical ability. We want each student to come away feeling excited and confident about cybersecurity. The Cyber Arena provides experiences in phishing, ransomware, cryptography, forensics, and many more types of hands-on technologies. Plus, each day students reflect on ethical questions in cybersecurity and data privacy, learning through recent events. We hope to send campers back home pumped up to learn more about cybersecurity classes offered at their schools.” Forge Institute is providing instructors and guest speakers from its vast network of subject matter experts. The organization is also assisting with curriculum development by providing insight to spark the interest of the camp’s participants and encourage their pursuit of a career in cybersecurity. “This is going to be an exciting two weeks for all of the participants,” said Scott Anderson, executive director of Forge Institute. “They will have an opportunity to hear from experts in cybersecurity from across the nation and come away with more awareness of what a career in cybersecurity looks like. This is a fantastic opportunity for Arkansas students. I am hoping many will choose a career in IT or cybersecurity. Events like these are essential to growing the state’s pipeline of talent that our organizations need to protect their systems and networks. We are excited about Arkansas’s first GenCyber Summer Camp and our partnership with the awesome team at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, who is making cybersecurity education a priority for their faculty, students, and the state’s future workforce.” Forge Institute has helped promote this opportunity and will be involved throughout the execution of the camp, along with post-camp activities to hopefully make this an annual event.

��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.

Emerging Analytics Center hosts teacher workshop to promote cybersecurity education

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 12:31:34 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Emerging Analytics Center hosted a three-day workshop for secondary education teachers who teach cybersecurity in Arkansas June 5-7. Funded by a from the National Science Foundation, the workshop is part of a program to promote cybersecurity education in Arkansas high schools. The 20 participating teachers learned about the fundamentals of cybersecurity, including spoofing, network protection, cryptography, cyberattacks, web application security, and password cracking. Additionally, the teachers evaluated an open-source cybersecurity curriculum currently in development by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors and graduate students. Members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cybersecurity Club are creating cybersecurity exercises through cloud technology that high school teachers will be able to provide to their students at no cost beginning in the fall. This is part of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s effort to create a pipeline for students to fill cybersecurity positions in the workforce. “This workshop meets a significant need since the state of Arkansas is very interested in utilizing cybersecurity in secondary education,” said Philip Huff, a research associate with the Emerging Analytics Center who ran the workshop. “Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s has expanded computer science education, and now they want to expand cybersecurity education. We want to play a central role in educating cybersecurity students and getting them ready for the workforce.”

Philip Huff (right), ��Vlog��ý Little Rock assistant professor and research fellow at the Emerging Analytics Center, leads a cybersecurity workshop for high school teachers from around the state. Photo by Ben Krain.

Workshop participant Scott Maddox just finished up his first year as a cybersecurity instructor at Vilonia High School. He was inspired to make the switch from band director to cybersecurity teacher after Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Arkansas Act 187, which required all of the state’s public and charter high schools to offer a course in computer coding. “When Gov. Hutchinson came out with the computer science education initiative, I really jumped on it, took a lot of training courses, and learned as much as I could,” Maddox said. “It’s been a very rewarding transition.” Maddox said the most valuable part of the workshop has been gaining access to tools, programs, and activities that he can incorporate into his future classes. “Overall, the fact that we are getting some really good tools to use in the classroom is a great benefit,” Maddox said. “The big thing is the virtual lab environments that enables the students to utilize a lot of the techniques they are learning to defend against cyberattacks without negative consequences on our school’s network. That is very valuable for someone like me who doesn’t have a computer science background.”

��Vlog��ýLR student researches how to keep cars safe from hacking

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:04:06 +0000

In 2015, two researchers a Jeep Cherokee being driven by a reporter who documented how the researchers controlled everything from the car’s radio and media console to its brakes and steering. For Dr. Shucheng Yu, an associate professor of computer science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the exercise demonstrated how vulnerable smart cars with GPS, Bluetooth, and internet connections are to cyberattacks. “These cars have become the trend of the future,” Yu said. “There could be some very severe consequences if someone hacked into the car. A car can be fully controlled by the hacker if it is not protected.” So Yu and his student, Zachary King, a junior majoring in computer science at ��Vlog��ýLR, spent the summer researching how to keep cars safe from cyberattacks. They worked on the project during an intensive eight-week summer research program at ��Vlog��ýLR. King was one of 10 college students from across the country recruited through a National Science Foundation grant-funded project, “REU Site: CyberSAFE@��Vlog��ýLR: Cyber Security and Forensics Research at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.” The goal of the program is to decrease cyberattacks on people using mobile technology and social networking sites, said Dr. Mengjun Xie, an associate professor of computer science and director of the CyberSAFE@��Vlog��ýLR program. “The basic idea is to integrate cybersecurity and cyber forensics research with the latest technology in mobile cloud computing and social media to provide research opportunities to students,” Xie said. More than 130 students applied for 10 spots. Participants included undergraduate college students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher who are majoring in computer science, computer engineering, math, physics, or electrical engineering. Those selected spent eight weeks conducting research full time with a faculty mentor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Participants received a $4,000 stipend, on-campus housing, a meal plan, and travel expenses.

How to protect your smart car

In his project, “Investigating and Securing Communications in the Controller Area Network (CAN), King created a security protocol to protect smart cars from hacking. He also built an experimental environment that simulates the communication system in a smart car, which allows the security protocol to be tested through simulations. The research focuses on the development of a security protocol to protect the Controller Area Network (CAN), an internal communications system in vehicles. “There are many ways that hackers can control CAN,” King said. “Once they access it, hackers can pretty easily control your car however they want. We are proposing to add a layer of security, so if an unauthorized person accesses it, they still wouldn’t be able to control your vehicle.” The security protocol protects the CAN in two ways. It authenticates messages sent through the network by creating an authentication code. This authentication code allows nodes on the network to differentiate between a valid message and an attacker’s message. The second security feature protects against replay attacks, when a hacker attempts to breach the network by repeatedly sending an old message. The protocol uses a timestamp to calculate when the network last received the message, which verifies the message’s “freshness.” Yu and King are continuing their research this fall. In the future, Yu hopes to collaborate with industry and funding agencies to implement the security protocol in commercial vehicles and protect cars from hackers. As for King, participating in this summer research program has left him considering a career in cybersecurity once he graduates in 2018. “Three months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you much about cybersecurity and what a security protocol would look like,” he said. “After having completed this program, I am more interested in cybersecurity than I was before, and I may end up going that route.”

A summer of innovative research

The CyberSAFE@��Vlog��ýLR participants were honored during a commencement ceremony July 29 at the ��Vlog��ýLR Engineering and Information Technology Building. Their research topics range from utilizing cybersecurity and social network forensics to understanding cyber warfare to the use of facial emotion recognition for security purposes. The participants, faculty mentors, and projects included:

Jonathan Ming, a junior at Azusa Pacific University (mentor: Mengjun Xie): “Remote Live Forensics for Android”
Monica Bebawy, a junior at Azusa Pacific University (mentor: Mariofanna Milanova): “Facial Emotion Recognition for Security”
Dennis Frank, a junior at Georgia Institute of Technology, and Jasmine Mabrey, a sophomore at Norfolk State University (mentor: Kenji Yoshigoe): “Neurological User Authentication: Security Framework”
Antwane Lewis, a senior at Philander Smith College (mentor: Mengjun Xie): “Real Time Motion-based Authentication for Smartwatch”
Brandon Dalton, a sophomore at Wentworth Institute of Technology (mentor: Nitin Agarwal): “Utilizing Cyber and Social Network Forensics for the Understanding of Cyber Warfare”
Edsel Paula-Aquina, a senior at Warren Wilson College, and Ying Vang, a senior at California State University-Fresno (mentor: Chia-Chu Chiang): “Computer on Encrypted Data”
Diana Anguiano, a senior at California State University-San Marcos (mentor: Mengjun Xie): “Comparison between Fingerprint Authentication and Behavioral Biometric Authentication using 2D and 3D Gestures”

For more information, contact Mengjun Xie at 501.569.8134 or mxxie@ualr.edu. In the upper right photo, CyberSAFE@��Vlog��ýLR participants and faculty mentors, from left to right, are: Front row: Monica Bebawy, Brandon Dalton, and Diana Anguiano; Second row: Dr. Mengjun Xie, Dennis Frank, and Jasmine Mabrey; Third row: Jonathan Ming, Ying Vang, Antwane Lewis, and Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe; and Back row: Edsel Paula-Aquino, Zachary King, graduate assistant Yanyan Li, and Dr. Mariofanna Milanova.

��Vlog��ýLR researchers tackle cybersecurity education with NSF grant

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 21:17:18 +0000

A team of researchers at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is giving cybersecurity education a much-needed upgrade, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. While news reports of large-scale cyberattacks and breaches have become commonplace, the cybersecurity field lacks readily available training, which has resulted in a shortage of skilled workers. The $276,424 NSF grant will enable the ��Vlog��ýLR team to develop a platform for high school and college competition and education that’s designed to improve cybersecurity throughout the country. Led by ��Vlog��ýLR Associate Professor of Computer Science Dr. Mengjun Xie, researchers will use the grant funds to create PROMISE, a cohesive system of free resources designed for multiple levels of cybersecurity learners. PROMISE’s features have two main goals — to improve the quality of national cybersecurity education and to equip students to be exemplary professionals in the field. The program’s flexible, easily accessible curriculum is intended to make getting a quality education in cybersecurity possible for countless students. As a designated in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity Education, ��Vlog��ýLR is well-equipped to launch the platform. Xie is joined by co-principal investigator Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe, professor of computer science and department chair; Dr. Chia-Chu Chiang, professor of computer science; Dr. Shucheng Yu, assistant professor of computer science; and Dr. Amy Sedivy-Benton, assistant professor of teacher education.

Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe

PROMISE will offer engaging learning modules that can be implemented in high school and college classrooms. These lessons will cover basic principles for cybersecurity beginners as well as rigorous training for cybersecurity competitions and the stages of learning in between. Each learning module will include four levels of content to engage and serve people with different backgrounds and interests. The virtual PROMISE space will house labs that will enable visitors to conduct experiments and collaborate with others. In the cybersecurity world, collaboration often means healthy competition. National competitions take place regularly. PROMISE will cater to this culture in an unprecedented way, the researchers said in their project proposal: “The platform is novel in that it will support competitions of different styles as well as hands-on puzzles and labs, all in the same style, which makes PROMISE a versatile facility for both security competition and general security education.” In addition to creating and sharing the virtual platform, the ��Vlog��ýLR team will host a variety of outreach events, including a workshop, competitions, and high school and college visits. Team members plan to collaborate with the National Guard Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Pulaski Technical College, and Catholic High School during the PROMISE evaluation period. After the project is completed, it will be free and available to the public.

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

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $150,000 NSA Grant to Host Cybersecurity Educational Program Across Arkansas

Arkansas Teachers Learning to Educate Students in Cybersecurity from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and ADE

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Will Offer Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Education Through National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy

Forge Institute Partners with ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Cyber Arena to support NSA-sponsored Cybersecurity Summer Camp in Arkansas

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