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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $800K NSA Grant to Expand Cybersecurity Education, Standardize National Curriculum Guidelines

John Hill — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:55:30 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a leader in cybersecurity education, has received a nearly $800,000 grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) to expand a national cybersecurity education program for teachers, as well as develop a standardized curriculum to build pathways for cybersecurity education between high schools and colleges. Through the grant from the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, “Cyber 1 Inauguration,” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, as the lead institution, will help expand the (NCTA), create a free cybersecurity education course for teachers, and update guidelines used to accredit college cybersecurity programs. “NCTA is an integral component of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s evolving ecosystem for cybersecurity education,” said Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science. “By providing Arkansas high school teachers with the expertise and professional credits to allow them to teach courses in the Arkansas Department of Education cybersecurity pathways, the Department of Computer Science is preparing the upcoming generation of students to pursue higher education in cybersecurity and launch successful careers in this burgeoning field. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is leading, with cooperation from numerous partners, in the development of cybersecurity programs and curricula in Arkansas higher education.” ��Vlog��ý Little will work with academic partners DePaul University and the University of Louisville as well as Dark Enterprises, a women-led nonprofit dedicated to advancing cybersecurity education. Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity, and Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the Cyber Arena, will serve as principal investigators. The NCTA was established in 2021 with a grant from the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. The NCTA is a collaboration of 10 institutions in nine states that offer the first credentialing program for high school cybersecurity education in the country. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of only three universities in the country who offer the NCTA Teaching Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate, along with the University of Louisville and DePaul University. The Teaching Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate prepares high school teachers to offer advanced placement courses in cybersecurity. Teachers receive instruction in a nationally recognized cybersecurity curriculum and foundational cybersecurity principles. The grant will allow the NCTA to provide multiple offerings of its gateway course, Teaching Cybersecurity, at no cost to qualified applicants. Teachers will be able to take the free course for professional development credit. They will also have the option to complete a certification exam for transfer credit to any NCTA institution if they later decide to complete the graduate certificate program. Additionally, the NCTA will expand its 12-hour graduate certificate to 18 hours to meet state requirements that allow educators to teach concurrent credit courses in high school. In addition, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and its partners will work with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to launch a joint task force that will issue an interim update to the Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC) guidelines. These guidelines are used to accredit undergraduate cybersecurity programs through ABET, a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. They will also work to have the introductory High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines officially recognized by state educators, which will create a standardized curriculum and pathway between high school and college cybersecurity education courses. The grant will help to fill the workforce gap of qualified cybersecurity professionals that are needed to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. “The current institutions involved in the NCTA, including ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, are dedicated and passionate in working collaboratively to help advance cybersecurity education in the U.S.,” said Jenny Daughtery, research and curriculum lead at DARK Enterprises. “There is a tremendous need for qualified individuals entering the cybersecurity workforce. Cyberseek.org reports the workforce shortage in cybersecurity at 715,000. It is critical that we prepare more students to enter this much needed field that helps make cyberspace more secure and trustworthy for everyone. The NCTA Cyber I project will provide the glue between high school, community college, and 4-year universities providing well-defined pathways for interested students. And by preparing more teachers to teach cybersecurity, the NCTA will have an exponential effect on the number of students who gain exposure to this exciting, in-demand career.” In coordination with the Education Pathway National Center, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and its partners will work to expand the number of institutions that offer the NCTA graduate certificate. They will develop program guidelines and curriculum standards for new and existing NCTA institutions as well as develop guidelines and recommendations for concurrent course transfer and inter-college articulation agreements for the broad acceptance of the Cyber I courses offered by NCTA certified teachers. “When the NCTA started, the state of Arkansas provided scholarships for 60 teachers to earn the Teaching Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate. This is really unprecedented across the nation,” Huff said. “By standardizing the NCTA, we make it easy for other states to develop the same successful model that Arkansas has created. This ensures that more states can take the same path to educating cybersecurity teachers and having more students coming out of high school with cybersecurity credit who are ready to enter a cybersecurity degree or workforce development program.” The initial two-year grant comes with an option for a third year with an additional nearly $400,000 in funding, which would bring the total grant amount to nearly $1.2 million.

Leiterman Hopes to Inspire Girls to Pursue Cybersecurity Careers Through Oct. 11 Event

John Hill — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:15:49 +0000

Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the , knows how important it is to inspire girls who are interested in studying careers in technology. The professional industry has a limited number of women in the field, and many girls lose interest during the formative junior high and high school years. That’s what Leiterman is hoping to change during an Empowering Women in Cybersecurity Summit. “Women currently only represent 11% of the cybersecurity field, so we hope events like this will inspire girls who are interested in cybersecurity and technology careers to pursue their dreams,” she said. She is one of four women leaders who are planning the Oct. 11 event. The rest of the leadership team includes Tina Moore, director of STEM/Computer Science Continuum for the Arkansas Department of Education, Mary Beth Hatch, coordinator of school innovation for the North Little Rock School District, and Errin Stanger, director of the Innovation Hub. The free event will be held in person at the Innovation Hub, 204 E. 4th St. in North Little Rock, and online via Zoom from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 11. The event celebrates both International Day of the Girl and Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The cybersecurity workshop is open to girls in grades 6-12. The event is a perfect fit for girls interested in exploring cybersecurity and technology related careers. Those interested may register . Girls attending the cybersecurity workshop will meet female cybersecurity experts, participate in hands-on cybersecurity related activities led by cybersecurity professionals, and learn about cybersecurity education and career options. The event’s keynote speaker is , majority staff director of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. She serves as Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson’s top advisor on the oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and national security throughout the Executive Branch. With over a decade of Capitol Hill experience, Goins has supervised the negotiation of key homeland security legislation, including the authorization of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office at DHS and the DHS Cybersecurity Strategies Act. Other presenters for the event include the Little Rock Air Force Base Cybersecurity Squadron, Arkansas Department of Education Computer Science Team, Starbase Arkansas, Becky Passmore, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock adjunct computer science professor and cyber investigator at Kroll Industries, and Lauren Lantz, lead instructor for Full Stack Academy.

Students Create Immersive Games During Virtual Reality Camp at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 13:25:22 +0000

About a dozen junior high and high school students spent a week learning how to create immersive games and virtual reality content for Meta during a virtual reality summer camp held Aug. 1-5 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Students learned how to create immersive games for the Meta Quest and Meta Quest 2 using the program, Unity, in the Emerging Analytics Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. At the end of the camp, students are set up with developer accounts if they want to continue to create games and other virtual reality content for Meta. Camp participants included Granger Colclasure, an 8th grader at Episcopal Collegiate; Lucas Campbell, an 8th grader at Episcopal Collegiate; Cohen Harris, a 7th grader at Robinson Middle School; Isaiah Johnson, a 9th grader at Jacksonville High School; Delores Meadows, a 9th grader at Jacksonville High School; Samuel Reyes, an 8th grader at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School; Caiden Ross, a 7th grader at Mabelvale Middle School; Aiden Team, a 10th grader at eStem Charter High School; Tripp Sanders, an 8th grader at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School; James Skaletski, a high school student from Germany; and Cedric Wade Jr. a 9th grader at Bryant Junior High School. James Skaletski, a rising 12th grader in Germany, took the camp while he was visiting family in Arkansas. “I think the camp is really cool,” Skaletski said. “We are learning to make games and implement them into virtual reality. You can create any game you can think of and then play it. For a career, I want to become a video editor, so some of the skills I’m learning in camp are similar to that and will be helpful in the future.” Philip Bryan, a graduate student in computer science, said students learned how to use the Unity program to create immersive games for the Meta Quest or Meta Quest 2. “Unity is a useful program to make games and fun tools,” Bryan said. “It’s a really useful skill to have. I hope the students keep involved in computer science. There are a lot of styles of games they create so I hope they keep using Unity. We also set them up with a developer account for the Meta in case they want to continue to develop games.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and researchers in the Emerging Analytics Center led the summer camp. They include Phillip Bryan, Parikshya Bhandari, Wesley Ferguson, Colin McNerny, Cecily (Danica) Mobley, Carlos Ochoa, Adam Perry, and Kimari Watson.

Middle and high school students created immersive games for the Meta Quest Virtual reality platform during a VR camp for youth at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo by Ben Krain.

This is the second year for the virtual reality camp. Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the Cyber Arena, said she came up with the idea for the camp last year when she heard kids talking about the types of virtual reality games they wanted to play. “I thought it would be a great idea if we taught students how to build the games that they really want to play,” Leiterman said. “I hope that the kids will take home the confidence that they can create and that they can have a career building games that they and others will enjoy. Of course, in the long term, I hope that they come back to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as computer science majors who work at the Emerging Analytics Center!”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Innovation Hub to Host Women in Cybersecurity Event

John Hill — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 14:22:40 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Cyber Arena is partnering with the , with support from the Arkansas Department of Education, to host an “Empowering Women in Cybersecurity” event in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 8. Participants can attend virtually or in person at the Innovation Hub, 204 E 4th St., North Little Rock. “With women representing just over 10 percent of the cybersecurity workforce, events like these are so important for young women to see cybersecurity as a viable career choice,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the The keynote speaker is Beth-Anne Bygum, chief security and compliance officer for Acxiom. The event will also feature a panel discussion with women who work in cybersecurity careers and a question-and-answer forum. The panelists include La’Mia Crutchfield, a senior at Bryant High School; Sarah Humphries, a sophomore at Lake Hamilton High School; Alexandria Cade of Acxiom; and Sarah Puolton of BreachBits. Girls in grades 6-12 as well as middle school and high school teachers are invited to join the night’s activities to learn more about cybersecurity careers and women in cybersecurity. Participants will also have the opportunity to choose from several hands-on activities to learn about different careers in the cybersecurity field. Participants may register for the event .

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.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock will offer cybersecurity certificate through higher education partnership

John Hill — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:34:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is partnering with a higher education consortium led by the University of Louisville to offer an online Cybersecurity Workforce Certificate program funded by the National Security Agency (NSA). ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was chosen to participate in this project because of the college’s earned designation as an NSA Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. “We are excited to work on this workforce program,” said Dr. Mariofanna Milanova, the project lead for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a professor of computer science. “It will better position our state and country to defend against cyber adversaries.” As a part of the NSA grant, first responders, including police officers, EMTs, firefighters, and healthcare workers, and military veterans can participate in the program at no cost. In addition to the certificate, participants will be able to earn industry-recognized badges from tech leaders such as Google, Microsoft, and IBM. The certificate program focuses on enhancing student knowledge in the realm of cybersecurity foundational courses, while using healthcare data examples and use cases. Participants may complete a total of 24 modules during the six-month program. The modules will cover topics like artificial intelligence, cyber threat hunting, network security, data mining, blockchain, digital forensics, database security, cloud security, Internet of Things, post quantum cryptography, risk analysis, and robotics process automation analysis. ”There are three levels in this certification,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity. “The explorer level provides foundational training in cybersecurity for IT professionals seeking to improve their understanding of cybersecurity. The practitioner level includes training for working in cybersecurity operations and includes topics in network security, cyber threat hunting, and forensics. Then the professional level includes several advanced topics in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud security.” The program is offered asynchronously online and includes virtual labs developed through the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena. Although fully online, instructors are available through virtual office hours, and each student will be assigned a success coach. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is working with the , a nonprofit organization that specializes in developing private-public partnerships that advance cyber operational objectives, to help test the cybersecurity curriculum through its existing cybersecurity boot camp, where participants are trained to become cybersecurity analysts. Researchers at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena, an education and simulation model laboratory for cybersecurity learning, are developing next-generation tools for delivering and assessing the cybersecurity curriculum for the certificate program. This will provide an exciting research opportunity for students who are entering the new bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity that begins this fall. Each cohort has 40 spots available. The next cohort start dates are Nov. 22, 2021; Jan. 24, 2022; and March 14, 2022. Those interested may visit to apply for the Cybersecurity Workforce Certificate program. For more information, contact Sandra Leiterman at saleiterman@ualr.edu or visit the .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Virtual Reality Summer Camp Aug. 2-6

John Hill — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:55:23 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a virtual reality summer camp in August for junior high and high school students. The university’s Emerging Analytics Center will host the camp for students in grades 7-12 from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 2-6 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Students will spend an action-packed week creating a virtual reality tour for the Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2. “Virtual reality is an important part of our lives today and allows us to create almost any type of environment for education, training, and more,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the Cyber Arena. “The new Oculus Quest 2 is a popular ‘toy’ for a lot of people today. Our thought is rather than buying games and simulations, we want to teach kids how to create their own content for Oculus. In a technology-driven world, it’s important to harness the creativity of our young generation that will hopefully lead them into future careers within virtual or augmented reality.” Access to a Facebook account is required to build Oculus content. Students must also bring their own Oculus device. The cost of the camp is $100. Those interested in attending may fill out the .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host first ever NSA GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp in Arkansas

John Hill — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 17:37:44 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a prestigious, nationwide summer camp for junior high and high school students who want to learn the latest skills in the high-demand field of cybersecurity. The camp is offered at no-cost to students. The Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training Program is open to any rising students in grades 7-12. The two-week summer camp will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 12-16 and July 19-23. The program is sponsored by a $100,000 grant from the National Security Agency and provides some of the best cybersecurity training for secondary school students from the top educators across the nation. Students will have the opportunity to work with hands-on cyber attacks and defense workouts in the Cyber Arena and hear from world-renowned experts in the cybersecurity profession. Students may attend the program virtually or in person at the Cyber Arena in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “Students will learn how to think like a hacker and stop cyber criminals in their tracks,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the��. “Each day will feature a world-renowned expert speaker in cybersecurity and the top hands-on cybersecurity training in the region.” 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.�� Participants should fill out�� to apply for the Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training Program.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

John Hill — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:31:06 +0000

In celebration of , ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has highlighted some of the women in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, their amazing research, and their journeys to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Dr. Beth McMillan, Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences

I am a geologist who studies landscapes — their forms and the processes that shape them. I grew up in Neosho, MO, and attended Colorado College, earning a bachelor’s in Geology. I also attended Colorado School of Mines for a master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering. Finally, I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Ph.D. in Geology.�� My husband and I have two children, both will be freshman in the fall 2021. My son will be attending Colorado College, and my daughter will be a freshman at Little Rock Central High School. My hobbies are mostly outdoor related. I love to hike, camp, ride my bike, and travel.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am the chairperson of the Department of Earth Sciences, a position that I aspired to from the earliest days of my career and one that I am very proud to have attained. My role is to help remove obstacles and provide opportunities for our students and our faculty, ultimately in order to better understand how the Earth works and how we can live sustainably with our environment. As a female geoscientist, I want to demonstrate how women can be successful in balancing work and family even when pursuing careers that often take them to distant and remote field areas. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?

Dr. Beth McMillan

I was drawn to science and math from an early age. I collected rocks as a very young child just because I liked their shapes. I never knew that you could pursue a career in studying how they formed and why they had those shapes. I was very fortunate to have parents who supported my interests and to have had teachers in middle school and high school who also fully encouraged my interests in the natural world.�� When I was a freshman in college, I took an Introductory Geology course. Other students told me it was a great field-trip class. That really appealed to me — to be able to go out to see and touch the things that were usually only seen as pictures in textbooks. My academic advisors were also very supportive of me, even when I had my first child during my Ph.D. studies. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity is of the utmost importance in STEM. We are all motivated by the accumulated experiences of our backgrounds. These experiences guide us to ask questions that are relevant to us as people. For me, I care very much about women’s health, my children’s future, and how the health of the Earth will impact these issues. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? First of all, there is a place for you in STEM.�� Second, work with those people who see you and value you for who you are and who you want to be.

Sandra Leiterman, Managing Director of the Cyber Gym

Sandra Leiterman

I am originally from Wisconsin, but I moved to Little Rock in 2006. I attended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and received my bachelor’s in Middle School Education (Math-Science) in 2010. I have a graduate certificate in Gifted and Talented Education also from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and a master’s degree in Digital Teaching and Online Learning from Kansas State. I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Urban Education with a specialization in Math Education.�� I have been married for 24 years. I have one son who will graduate in May from Oklahoma State University, and I have a dog named Humphrey. When I am not at work or working on schoolwork, you can find me at CycleBar, or on a run with my dog at one of the bridge parks such as the Two Rivers or Big Dam Bridge. I also find sewing very therapeutic and mind-calming.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am currently the Managing Director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Gym. The Cyber Gym provides massively scalable cloud-based cybersecurity workouts (problems and threat exercises) appropriate for every level of the cybersecurity workforce pipeline. We provide realistic, hands-on activities in a variety of cybersecurity subject areas to reinforce security learning objectives and develop the skills needed to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. I work with recruitment and outreach to bring people, especially women and other typically underrepresented students, to our program via workshops, summer camps, and, ultimately, our degree programs.�� I am also on the steering committee for the Annual I have hosted several women/girls in STEM workshops in the past five years, both on and off campus. Most recently was the Women in Cyber Security Summit on International Day of the Girl 2020.��

The Just a Prototype robotics team members include: Back row (L-R) Jamie Burrows, Rachel Smith, Shala Nail, and Donetha Groover. Front row (L-R) David Shurley , FLN the robot, and Faculty Advisor Sandra Leiterman.

What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? I have always enjoyed math and science. However, I did not enjoy the way it was taught. I became a STEM educator to have an impact on building competence and confidence for students in the math and science fields. In my first year teaching, I saw how inequitable opportunities were for the girls in my class, mostly because they had no one to encourage or believe in them. I began to encourage all of my girls to participate in extracurricular activities such as robotics, science fairs, and the science olympiad. I coached the first all-girls robotics team in the state of Arkansas.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? I think everyone has something to offer as far as creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving. Far too often, we see women’s ideas and approaches being dismissed or diminished. If women are not invited to participate, then the STEM fields are missing out on talent.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? One of my favorite quotes is from : “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”�� Have the confidence in yourself to believe you belong there.

Khristina Huff, Junior Biology and Chemistry Student��

I was raised in the small, rural town of Cleveland, Arkansas by my parents Cary Huff and Carin Knopfer. It was a quiet area to say the least, but nonetheless taught me many valuable life lessons that I will always hold dear. I found a wide range of hobbies to keep me busy in such a small area, including martial arts, art classes, piano, video games, and poetry.

Khristina Huff

The area provided opportunities that others my age may not have been able to experience.�� My neighbors have a farm and for seven years, I worked as a farmhand and farmer’s market helper. The summer after my freshman year in college, I worked at the farm and interned at the local hospital to aid in my aspirations as a future orthopedic surgeon. It was here that I shadowed a variety of careers including orthopedics, wound care, radiology, emergency medicine, rehab and more. The summer after this, my study abroad trip was canceled due to COVID-19. I decided to pursue experience in home health and became a personal care aide to help patients in daily routines at their homes. What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� After graduating from Clinton High School and being accepted into the Donaghey Scholars Program, I began my journey at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on a pre-med track to gain my bachelor’s in biology and in chemistry. Since attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I have found some really amazing opportunities. I joined the VEX Robotics team during my freshman year and later shadowed research within our Nanotech department. In my second semester of freshman year, I was selected to be a learning assistant, leading a weekly chemistry workshop each semester. This semester, I have begun to work behind the scenes with the university’s Learning Assistant program, studying the impact of this program on increasing the success of diverse students, especially those from marginalized groups. Additionally, this semester I was selected to begin biomedical research at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, beginning in the next few weeks.�� What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? The many exciting experiences that I have had the chance to participate in all prepare me for my future career as a healthcare provider. I grew up with two disabled veterans as parents, and as someone who has witnessed their hardships, it has created a passion within me to care for patients like them. Watching members of underserved groups struggle for quality healthcare is heartbreaking to me.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? With the increasing diversity of patients within medicine, it is imperative that providers are able to understand their concerns. The same goes for those working in STEM fields. By introducing this kind of diversity into the workplace, we are repaid with understanding, brilliant, and beyond capable physicians, engineers, teachers, and more.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? By bringing diversity such as this into the workplace, young women are fully able to pursue any career that they desire. It is these women that will bring equity as well as equality to our society. It is these women that will open doors never seen before to those before them. It is these women who are the future of our ever-changing world. The first step for these girls is to see their potential and know that no career goal is ever too big for them to achieve. The second is to show others that they can do the same. With a mindset such as this, these young women will pave the way for others such as themselves, creating a future in which little girls can pursue their goals without a shadow of doubt.

Dr. Noureen Siraj, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry

Dr. Noureen Siraj

Born and raised in a middle class family, I started tutoring science and mathematics to my junior students when I was only in eighth grade. Since then, I have considered myself a part of the academic world and found a natural teacher inside me.�� I was raised in a family and a part of the world where girls do not get equal opportunities of higher and quality education compared to boys. My admission to university had several hurdles, including cultural resistance and financial expenses. However, I was able to overcome all these barriers with my severe persistence and father’s assistance. I am the first one in my family who was admitted to a university for higher education. Because of me, my younger sister found it easier to follow my route and complete her master’s in Chemistry. I graduated from the university as a top rank student not only in my class but also in the chemistry department. I was awarded with four gold medals at the same university where I was admitted on probation. After completing my master’s degree in chemistry, I started teaching in college and then joined the university as an instructor. I received a fully funded scholarship for my Ph.D. in Austria. This was the first time in my life to travel abroad, and it was a life changing experience for me. During my stay in Austria, I met and made friends from different countries, cultures, religions, and language. I learned a lot from my friends and class fellows of diverse backgrounds. I travelled to many European countries (Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherland, Slovakia, Slovenia, etc.) My hobby was to explore different places, cultures, and languages, as well as visit churches and mosques. This exposure made me flexible, adaptable, and respectful to people of different ethnicities and languages and enabled me to appreciate the importance of diversity. I came to the U.S. as a postdoctoral scholar in the Warner Research group at Louisiana State University. The research group was also very diverse. The contribution of Dr. Warner for African American students was tremendous. My goal is to develop a very strong research group of diverse people who thrive in research and innovation.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am the only female research professor in the department. At present, I am running the largest research group in the department as well. Currently, there are six female graduate and seven undergraduate research students working in my laboratory. My research group includes first-generation college students, African American students, women, international students, and white students. These numbers corroborate that women can be good researchers and excel in STEM fields. My current research focuses on exploring the application of ionic nanomaterials in the arena of health, environment, and energy. I have published 18 manuscripts since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Research grants are critical to develop a strong and successful research group. In the last 4 years, I have secured funding from federal agencies (NSF and NASA), state (Arkansas Division of Higher Education, INBRE) and local grants (college and signature awards). I travelled to the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) with my graduate student via a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to perform superior research with well-known scientists. Learning there helped me to enhance the scope of research projects in my lab.�� My students have presented research in different conferences including ACS national and regional meetings, IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) conferences, at the Arkansas State Capitol, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock EXPO, and more. Many of my undergraduate and graduate students have received awards for their research oral and poster presentations. Last year, my undergraduate students received first position at an INBRE conference and first and third place at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Expo.

Dr. Noureen Siraj works in her chemistry lab. Photo by Ben Krain.

I mentor three to five K-12 school students every year who present their scientific findings and learnings in their school, regional, state, and international science fairs. Many high school students from my lab have received distinctions and cash prizes at regional, state and international competitions. In 2018, Meghana Bollimpali, a junior high school student who worked under me, won the 2nd place grand award of $50K at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). No other student from Arkansas has ever achieved such distinction. In 2019, another student from my lab, Amna Khan, won third place in the chemistry category at Intel ISEF. In 2020, two high school students secured first place in the regional science fair and were selected to participate at ISEF.�� I serve on many committees within the university that work to improve the diversity in STEM. I provide volunteer service to various journals. I serve on the review panel for proposals as a member of the editorial board and reviewer committee. I am also a member of the Donaghey Scholars Program Policy Council. I serve as a judge for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Poster Expo. I am also a member of the Mock PreMed Interview Committee. In the department, I am a chair of the Safety Committee, member of the Assessment Committee, and a part of the Awards and Recognition Committee. I am a Chemistry Olympiad Exam coordinator for the Central Arkansas region. I am also a member of the scientific review committee of ISEF. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? I am a chemist today because a chemistry teacher in my undergrad inspired me to the extent that I fell in love with this subject and chose to become a researcher as well as a teacher in this amazing field. It is my turn now to inspire the next generation to do wonders and serve humanity by making new discoveries and inventions in this field.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Innovation in STEM comes from out-of-the-box thinking. People think differently because of their different backgrounds, experiences in their lives, and values. Diverse students in STEM innovate solutions that were not possible with people of the same experiences and backgrounds. Diversity allows students to share their unique experiences with the group and their unique approach to solving the problems. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? Girls, you can excel in STEM fields. Initially, things look difficult but a little patience, hard work and perseverance make things easier. Once you develop interest, you will start enjoying it. Hands-on experience in the lab helps to develop interest and understand difficult concepts in classes.

Dr. Laura S. Ruhl-Whittle, Associate Professor in the Earth Science Department

Dr. Laura Ruhl-Whittle

I’m from Ft. Myers, FL, although I spent some of my childhood in Monroe, LA. I went to the University of Florida for my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Although I began as a pre-med major, I found that I really enjoyed learning about the Earth processes and majored in Geology. I’ve combined my interest in Health with Geology and do research in the field of Medical Geology, specifically looking at the formation and mineralogy of kidney stones. I got my Ph.D. at Duke University in Earth and Ocean Sciences.�� In my spare time I enjoy reading, running, hiking with my family, playing with my 3-year -old, and baking.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� I am a woman scientist at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the Department of Earth Sciences. I teach many classes from introductory Physical Geology and Earth and the Environment to upper levels such as environmental geology, hydrogeology, Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas, and Geochemistry. My research consists of understanding the behavior of contaminants in the environment from mining activities, urban activities, and energy uses and resources. As I mentioned above, I am also pursuing research in the field of Medical Geology, looking at the impact of geological materials on human health (urban road dust or coal ash that one may breathe in) to how geological materials form in the human body (kidney stones).�� What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?��

Dr. Laura Ruhl-Whittle

I’ve always had an interest in science (biology, pre-med, etc). One of my favorite places in the world is the beach, so naturally geology was a good fit for me. I didn’t know about geology when I began my undergrad, but after taking one class I was hooked. I loved the way that science explained the happenings in the world around me from why we have mountains and volcanoes where we do to the reason we have ocean basins.�� Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity is essential in STEM fields. I’ve found that many scientists use their backgrounds and experiences to approach problems, therefore having a diverse STEM population brings many new and great ideas to STEM. I also think it is important to have diversity to show that anyone who wants to can be a scientist, engineer, or mathematician. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? You can do it! If you have an interest in science, engineering, or math, check out the possibilities for careers. There are so many more than I ever thought possible, and you can have it all — a career in science, a life, and a family.

Iris Denmark, Ph.D. student in Applied Sciences specializing in Chemistry

I am from Jacksonville, Fl. I’m the youngest girl of five and the daughter of a nurse and a teacher. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in chemistry by day and work full-time as a supervisor at a local Marriott by night. My favorite pastimes are confiding in my siblings and making and selling personal care products for my Etsy business. Family is my priority and the main motivation for everything I do.

Iris Denmark

Being a woman in science has incited many opportunities for me such as having my undergraduate education funded by NASA, governmental and international research opportunities, jobs, and graduate education. I highly recommend it, and think others should definitely try it.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I am currently a third-year Applied Sciences Ph.D. student in the applied chemistry graduate program. My current research is in the sector of electrochemistry, in which I make and characterize supercapacitor materials from bioavailable resources under the mentorship of Dr. Noureen Siraj. During my time in the lab, I also serve as a mentor to undergraduates and high school students who have taken interest in electrochemistry and applications for renewable energy. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? My father teaches math and science. Also, I attended high school at an engineering magnet academy in Florida, so my exposure to STEM has always been there, as well as my encouragement to pursue an education and career in STEM. I initially wanted to be a biomedical engineer, but my academic journey and experiences solidified my interests in analytical chemistry instead. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? I can attest firsthand that diversity in the STEM field is especially important. It is imperative to demonstrate to those from all walks of life that they can be successful in every endeavor, including STEM, despite their background, or circumstances. Michelle Obama says that if you are committed to doing what it takes, anything is possible. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? I would say to them that there will absolutely be times of adversity and discomfort for women pursuing careers in STEM, a male-dominated field. The key to overcoming this adversity is to remain focused and humble and let your work speak for itself.

Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Information Science

Dr. Elizabeth Pierce

I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA. I was very fortunate to grow up in a community that employed a lot of engineers, teachers, scientists, and professional people who really valued hard work and education. I attended Penn State where I discovered the field of Management Science (an early version of the Management Information Systems).

This choice of major led me to a job as a Programmer Analyst at IBM where I later picked up a master’s in Computer Science. I then decided I would really like to teach at a university so I got my Ph.D. in Statistics and Management Science from the University of Michigan. This really helped me to achieve my career goal of becoming faculty, first at one of the state schools in Pennsylvania and then at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? My role is to provide educational services in information systems, technologies, and data sciences to undergraduate and graduate students. My research interests include data governance, data quality, and data analytics. Our department is now home to one of the top online Information Science and Information Quality graduate programs in the country. Plus, we have a very successful track record of training and placing our undergraduates in tech jobs in Arkansas and surrounding states. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? I liked working with data and trying to figure out what you can do with data. There are lots of neat things you can do with data such as using it to describe the world around us, help diagnose issues, make predictions, and help us figure out the best course of action to take. But to make this happen, you need to have the systems and technologies in place to collect, store, manage, use, and protect the data as well as ensuring the quality of the data. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity brings thinking from lots of different perspectives. We need lots of different viewpoints to help make sure that our information systems, technologies, products and services help all people. What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? You can do this. You can make a difference. There are lots of different types of jobs in the IT Industry and lots of organizations that need people who can help them manage, protect, and make the most use of their data for solving tough problems and for helping to serve their customers better.

Julia Green, Senior Computer Science Major

Julia Green

I’m from Maumelle, AR, and I am a senior here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. Outside of school and work, you can often find me reading, drawing, or playing video games. After I finish my bachelor’s, I plan on pursuing a master’s and eventually a Ph.D. in Computer Science. I really enjoy research and want to pursue a full-time career in it. I am really curious about the applications of computer science in meteorology and would love to work for the National Weather Service one day! What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?�� My role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock currently consists of several endeavors. I have been working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Emerging Analytics Center since October 2019. I really enjoy getting to put my art and programming skills to the test on the various AR/VR research projects I work on.�� I also enjoy getting to help tutor other students in computer science courses through my position as a CSTEM Ambassador. In addition to my jobs, I am the president of the eSports Club as well as the treasurer and webmaster of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ACM Student Chapter. Through my participation in these organizations, I get to work on many different projects that I am passionate about, further improve my abilities as a Computer Scientist, and (most importantly) have fun. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? Several things inspired my pursuit of a STEM career, with the primary factor being my love for computers. I have loved working with computers since I was very young and have known that I wanted to work with them for much of my life. Another thing that inspired me was the abundance of need for people in Computer Science and STEM as a whole. This abundance of need, I hope, will provide job stability for me and many others in the future. The last thing that inspired me to join STEM is my own desire to provide for myself. I have always been a very independent individual and desired to be my own breadwinner from a young age. I felt that a STEM career was one of my best chances to achieve this. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Diversity is an invaluable resource in any field as it provides different viewpoints and ways of thinking. STEM fields are notorious for being male-dominated. As their diversity increases, these different viewpoints and ways of thinking will allow for creativity and innovation to flourish even more so than is currently. This will lead to more creations and discoveries which, in turn, will be more inclusive of the population as a whole. Since STEM fields are what drive a lot of our development as a species, it is good that they are more representative of the population as a whole.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? My first piece of advice I have for young girls wanting to pursue a career in STEM is to advocate for yourself. Your thoughts and ideas are important, but it is up to you to make sure they are heard. You can’t always depend on others, sadly, so don’t be afraid to speak your mind or stand up for yourself. My second piece of advice is to not be afraid of STEM just because of its notoriety for a lack of diversity. Despite this lack of diversity, I have met many good people and made many close friendships with my STEM colleagues. Moreover, STEM’s lack of diversity won’t be mended unless more people from different backgrounds decide to pursue a career in it. I am excited for more young girls to join STEM and see what all we are able to accomplish together in the future.

Mujeebat Bashiru, Doctorate Student in Applied Chemistry

Mujeebat Bashiru

I am Mujeebat Bashiru, a third-year student currently pursuing her Doctorate Degree in Applied Chemistry at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. As an international student who hailed from Nigeria, I am delighted to be among this great diverse community. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from University of Ilorin, Nigeria, but was passionate to seek more knowledge from a totally different environment abroad in a more diverse community with people from various backgrounds and cultures.�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I currently work as a teaching assistant in the department to impact knowledge to students. The Chemistry Department is a community of good people. To the best of my knowledge, they are willing to support and help achieve my career goal. As a researcher undergoing the learning process, meeting people, learning new ideas, sharing ideas, impacting lives, proffering solutions to problems, and sharing time with my family and friends are my interests. The department is occupied with various active research groups. Joining one of them known as the Siraj’s Lab (Analytical/Physical/Material Chemistry Laboratory) is indeed priceless with similar career goals and objectives. Briefly, Siraj’s lab is composed of 95% female chemists! Under the supervision of a female mentor, the group focuses on solving problems facing health, energy, and environment with the use of inexpensive materials that are environmentally friendly to greatly improve the living quality and prosperity of people. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? Since I was little, I was faced with the thought of being a problem solver. And the various potentials of chemistry in terms of its versatility to almost all aspects that one can ever think of inspired me. With this, I must say it is a great field. Obtaining a doctorate degree in chemistry will develop me to conduct independent research at the highest academic level. With this, I can achieve my dream. Life will not only be impacted but it will also make me fulfilled. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Since the STEM field is very broad, diversity is of great importance due to the unity involved. There is much more quality in coming together of great minds with a similar vision and mission. This will really help in achieving goals that seem impossible and�� should be encouraged.

Tina Hesabizadeh, Doctoral Student in Applied Biosciences

Tina Hesabizadeh

My name is Tina. I graduated with my B.S. in Biology in December 2020, and I am currently a Ph.D. student in the Applied Biosciences program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� I am Persian, originally from Iran, but I have called Little Rock my home for the past 12 years! I enjoy being outdoors, and I love looking at a clear sky at night and travel among the stars in my mind! I am very honored to be in the STEM field and to be able to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science!�� What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I am currently conducting research with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as well as the Biology department. I started my research when I joined the McNair Scholars Program as an undergraduate, and I have been working on Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles using Laser Ablation. I love teaching and informing others about my research, and I have hope to inspire other women to pursue their dreams in the STEM field.�� What inspired you to pursue a STEM career? From the first moment I was introduced to the laser lab by my mentor and advisor��Dr. Guisbiers, I knew that I was going to enjoy and love working in the lab, and I have always had hope that my research can one day leave an impact or change lives for the better. When I am working in the lab, I only think about the future of humankind and the positive impact our research can have. Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields? Each person brings a unique character and skill to the field. If we are not diverse, our research will be very limited, and our results and discoveries will decrease as the result of that. Diversity is the key importance for our future innovations, discoveries, and achievements.�� What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM? I would advise any young girl to know that you are the future, and you can change the world with your dedication and hard work. Remember that our future depends on you, so never give up on your dreams of changing our world for better because I know you can! Keep on inspiring!�� “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie

Ruby Trotter, Chemistry and Spanish Major

I am a premedical student majoring in Chemistry and Spanish, with a minor in Biology. My career aspirations are to become a physician (likely a pediatrician, internal medicine physician, or family physician) while also dipping my toes into public health so that I can address health disparities in the Black and Latino communities, as well as health policy.

I was born and raised in Arkansas, but went to high school in Houston, Texas, before making my way back to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the Donaghey Scholars Program. Here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I’ve been blessed with countless opportunities to learn more about where I want to be in the near and distant future! Some hobbies include playing the violin, learning the guitar, visiting local coffee shops, and hiking Arkansas.

What is your role as a woman in science at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock?

At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I have been blessed to have many opportunities to explore the sciences. I am involved in research at the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences where I have been studying bone tissue regeneration technologies since Fall 2019 and will be starting a final project for the Donaghey Scholars Program surrounding how certain cells in our body interact with a material that we have functionalized in lab which supports bone growth. I have secured a Signature Experience Grant for this research project and am very excited about it!

Ruby Trotter

I have been a Learning Assistant in the Fundamental Chemistry classroom for three semesters, and plan to start again in the Fall 2021 semester. In this role, I have helped to lead students to understanding more about Chemistry through interactive workshop sessions. This experience has given me so much confidence in my ability to potentially teach others in the future (maybe I’ll come back and teach medical school after a few decades in the profession).

I am also a Chemistry Education Researcher on campus, where I am studying how students perceive Active Learning strategies employed in our Chemistry classrooms and how that impacts final course outcomes. I was rewarded a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant from ADHE for this research in Spring 2020. This research has opened my eyes and confirmed my interest in health disparities with the parallels that I have seen in education opportunities.

During the summer after my freshman year, I secured an internship at the Arkansas Department of Health, where I was able to do research surrounding the state’s hospitals and their efficiency in minimizing Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). I began networking in the healthcare field, and learned so many skills in research, Excel, presentations, and a new knowledge of what all goes into caring for a patient. It was amazing to get this other perspective of it all.

The summer after my sophomore year, I was accepted into the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) – a highly selective program for aspiring medical, dental, and nursing professionals at universities around the country. Through the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, I learned a lot about different specialties in medicine, made incredible connections, and participated in a research project with a group of fellow scholars. At the end of the summer, we had developed a project proposal to address health disparities (specifically rate of prenatal care and preterm labor/maternal mortality rates) among African American women in Arkansas entitled, “The Prenatal Promise: Addressing Prenatal Care Disparities in Arkansas.” This experience was really exciting as I was able to introduce my group to an issue we had back here at home, and they latched onto it and helped me brainstorm ways to address it.

I have volunteered at Harmony Health Clinic and 12th Street Health & Wellness Center here in Little Rock, which were both recommended to me by former scholars.

I am also in the Louis Stokes’ Alliance for Minority Participation – an organization which desires to increase minority participation in the STEM majors and the field itself. Dr. Lakeshia Jones has encouraged me to attend several conferences to present my research and has found countless internships and opportunities for us to apply to.

What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?

I can’t say that there was ever one defining moment that made me want to go into medicine. I have always been interested in the world around me, how science affects it, and how cool the human body is (come on, it heals itself). I do think that I had very supportive parents who inspired me to pursue this career. My dad always encouraged me to learn more about what I was passionate about, and my mom being in public health herself and sharing her knowledge with me along the way.

Why do you think diversity is important, especially in STEM fields?

My Donaghey Scholars admission essay was actually about this exact topic. Diversity is incredibly important in general and especially in the STEM fields. As a Chemistry Education Researcher, I know that many students can feel uninspired or incapable of making it in a field where they are consistently told and shown that the best scientists do not look like them. They think, “Is this the field for me if I am not even represented in it?”

Not only that, but there are also perspectives that people of different races, genders, ages, and other backgrounds can bring to a problem in STEM that others may not have thought of. Certain barriers make it such that our nation is missing out on some of the brightest and most innovative minds in STEM. It is vital that we increase diversity in these disciplines to give hope to the next generation of STEM professionals, and to show them that they do belong in this field – no matter what they are hearing otherwise.

What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue a career in STEM?

The advice that I would give to a young girl pursuing a career is: Listen to your heart telling you what you are passionate about, the way in which you think you can make the most difference in this world, or even just what you are super drawn towards. You don’t have to know exactly what that is right now. But when you hear that voice in your head telling you that this seems exciting and you really want this, don’t let any barrier or any person tell you that you can’t. It will be incredibly difficult to make it all the way, but also incredibly rewarding.

As a piece of tangible advice: Take every advantage that you can of having a mentor figure in your life. There’s no way I would be where I am right now without mentors that I have made along the way who have believed in me and directed me to the right resources to find the opportunities that I have, and I am forever grateful for them.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $800K NSA Grant to Expand Cybersecurity Education, Standardize National Curriculum Guidelines

Leiterman Hopes to Inspire Girls to Pursue Cybersecurity Careers Through Oct. 11 Event

Students Create Immersive Games During Virtual Reality Camp at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock, Innovation Hub to Host Women in Cybersecurity Event

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock will offer cybersecurity certificate through higher education partnership

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Virtual Reality Summer Camp Aug. 2-6

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host first ever NSA GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp in Arkansas

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science