Work Study Position Available for the CIS Department

The CIS Department is seeking a Student Assistant work study position. The job includes assisting CIS staff with office-related tasks, serving as a receptionist to greet and assist guests to Wheatley Center, data entry, and creation of blog posts, flyers, and other documents for the department.

Candidates must be eligible for the Federal Work Study program (you can check with the Financial Aid office to find out if you are eligible) and must be available to work weekdays between the hours of 9am to 4pm. The work schedule will range from 12-20 hours per week and will be negotiated upon hire.

Great candidates will have the following:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word. Experience in Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, or WordPress is a plus.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new skills.
  • Reliability and punctuality.

If you are interested in working for the department, please apply!

More information and the link to apply online can be found here:

https://careers.pageuppeople.com/856/ci/en-us/job/498434

Hacking4Humanity 2026: Challenging AI Injustice, Building Ethical Futures

Hacking4Humanity (H4H) is a tech and policy hackathon that offers students a new way to engage with real-world social problems that can be improved with novel technical and policy solutions. This year’s theme is Challenging AI Injustice, Building Ethical Futures.

H4H 2026 kicks off on Zoom on Friday, February 6 and culminates in an in-person competition consisting of student presentations of their tech and policy solutions onFriday, February 20. The hackathon is open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any college or university in the Pittsburgh area, and students can register to participate as individuals or teams.

Hacking4Humanity is a tech and policy hackathon, so students from all disciplinary backgrounds can participate! In addition to the theory-, skills-, and relationship-building opportunities that this event provides, winners of the in-person competition will be awarded cash prizes ($1,000 for first place in each track) and will have the opportunity to meet and work with students from across the region, as well as network with academic and industry professionals. Register now!

Cyber Security Student Success (CS3) Club

Cyber Security Student Success (CS3) has been established as a club at Robert Morris University. The purpose of the club is to create a community around peer-to-peer cybersecurity learning opportunities like workshops and competitions. The club is dedicated to empowering members through hands-on learning, professional development, and community outreach. CS3 meets every Monday and Thursday from 4:00pm – 6:00pm in Wheatley 120, so please stop by!

Join CS3 on February 2nd and February 5th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm for their first two labs: “Shodan – Exploiting Exposed Endpoints” and “Tenable Nessus – An Introduction to Vulnerability Scanning”.

National Cyber League Awards for Fall 2025

RMU Fall 2025 National Cyber League Team Members and Coach

The following 8 students from the RMU National Cyber League (NCL) Team received performance medals from the National Cyber League (NCL) Fall 2025 season competitions held August to November 2025).

Larry Luther (Diamond)
Connor Quinn (Diamond)
Jesse Marks (Platinum)
Peyton Lutchkus (Gold)
Grant Carvender (Gold)
Chloe Dzuba (Gold)
Will Rebello (Silver)
Jorge Pinzon (Bronze)

Dr. Ping Wang served as the RMU NCL faculty coach.

Congratulations, team!

Joshua Cunningham (’25) Named to Knox News 40 Under 40

Joshua Cunningham (RMU ’25), a graduate of the Ph.D. in Information Systems and Communications program, has been named to the Knox News 40 Under 40 Class of 2025.

Josh is an IT Project Manager leading the United States’ largest multiprogram science and technology lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He notably led the project for ORNL’s first on-site quantum computer. In addition this cutting-edge IT work, Josh also has a diverse work history ranging from wildland firefigher to DJ and Iditarod reporter in Alaska. Read more about Josh and this award here.

We are excited to see Josh’s leadership and contributions recognized. Congrats, Josh!

RMU Grad Students Present at INSuRE Showcase

(L to R) Dr. Ping Wang, Chloe Dzuba, and Peyton Lutchkus

RMU MS Cybersecurity students Peyton Lutchkus and Chloe Dzuba presented posters on their cybersecurity team projects at the national INSuRE (Information Security Research and Education) cybersecurity showcase event held at the Rayburn House Office building in Washington DC on December 3, 2025. Their projects and presentations were supervised by Dr. Ping Wang. 

Congratulations, Peyton and Chloe!

2025 Upsilon Pi Epsilon Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to Jorge Pinzon and Kelson Bowman on being selected as the 2025 scholarship recipients for Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), the international honor society for the computing and information disciplines.  This is a prestigious honor with competition from applicants at universities across the country.

The UPE Scholarship Challenge: Annually, the Executive Council of Upsilon Pi Epsilon evaluates submissions from our most promising undergraduate and graduate students, nationwide. The application process is rigorous: candidates must present a clear vision for their long-term professional plans, showcase their impactful contributions to their UPE chapters, and document their college-level activities. Successful applicants will have also secured a key recommendation from their UPE faculty adviser and provided all official transcripts.

Please join us in congratulating Kelson and Jorge!

Kelson Bowman, left, and Jorge Pinzon, right

For more information on the Honor Society and the annual scholarship opportunity, click here: Upsilon Pi Epsilon

Cyber Workshop for RMU @ National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA)

The CIS Department has organized a workshop for RMU students at the National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA) in Pittsburgh.  The workshop will focus on areas of interest to cybersecurity students, but all computing students are welcome to attend.  However, the event will be limited to the first 20 students.  Transportation to/from the event and a light lunch will be provided by the CIS department.

Cyber Workshop for RMU @ National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA)

Location: 2000 Technology Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Event Date: Wednesday, February 4th 2025

Event Time:  8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Agenda:
8:15 am Bus from Campus to NCFTA
9:00 am FBI Briefing on Current Events (unclassified) and Career Info
        Aaron Hays, FBI Special Agent 
9:45 am Industry CISO Panel
        John O'Rourke, Chief Information Security Officer, PPG
        Jim Mahony, Chief Information Security Officer, RMU
10:30 am Hands-On Cybersecurity Capture-the-Flag Exercise  
11:30 am NCFTA Facility Tour including Malware Lab
12:00 am Lunch with: 
        Emily Kerry, Intelligence Analyst at NCFTA; RMU Class of 2024
1:00 pm  Bus returns to Campus

Sign-up Below

If you are interested in attending this event, please fill out the application below and submit to indicate your interest. 

Click here: Cyber Workshop Application

You will be notified in January if you have been selected to attend the event (limited to the first 20 students), and asked to confirm your attendance at that time.  (If you have class on Wednesdays, you will need to miss class to attend this event on February 4th.  You will have time to discuss with your professor(s) to ensure that this will be OK before confirming your attendance.)  

Dr. Parul Yadav Wins the International Educator of the Year – Special Recognition Award 2025

The International Conference on Data-Processing and Networking
(ICDPN-2025) was held from November 7th – 8th. During the conference, the FUSION Awards 2025 celebrated trailblazers, thinkers, researchers, and change-makers who exemplify excellence in academia, industry, and innovation. This prestigious international platform recognizes collaborative brilliance, where ideas meet execution, research drives real-world impact, and cross-sector synergy accelerates global progress.

Dr. Parul Yadav, who won the International Educator of the Year Award, was recognized for her global educational leadership and cross-border impact. “I am delighted and humbled…the experience was truly enriching. The sessions offered valuable insights into emerging research, innovation, and collaborations happening across the globe. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with experts and educators from different countries”, said Dr. Yadav.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Yadav on her most recent accomplishment.

For more information on the awards and selection criteria, please click here to visit their website: 2025 ICDPN Fusion Awards

2025 Three Rivers Info Security Symposium (TRISS) Conference

The Three Rivers Information Security Symposium (TRISS) is an annual, single-day event featuring multiple presentation tracks. It serves as a vital meeting ground for Pittsburgh’s leading IT and security professionals, enabling them to exchange knowledge and foster collaborative partnerships.

This symposium is an entirely volunteer-driven effort, dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging cooperation, and strengthening expertise within the regional information security sector.

TRISS is proudly sponsored and organized by a coalition of influential local organizations, such as:

  • RMU’s Top Secret Colonials (TSC)
  • Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS)
  • Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
  • Infragard Pittsburgh Members Alliance (IPMA)
  • Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)

Furthermore, the symposium shows its commitment to the future of the field by offering a robust education and scholarship program.

RMU students and faculty at TRISS 2025

The conference attracts key experts and executives from major Pittsburgh institutions, including U.S. Steel, PNC, PPG, Wesco, UPMC, and others. A commitment to quality is upheld through a merit-based speaker selection process, guaranteeing a diverse and unbiased program.

This year, 30 students from RMU were in attendance! The symposium provided them with a truly great learning and networking opportunity, allowing them to immerse themselves in the latest industry trends, cutting-edge research, and practical defense strategies presented by leading security professionals.

TRISS 2025 was a fantastic success, underscoring the vital connection between local industry groups and the next generation of cybersecurity talent. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!