Category Archives: awards and recognition

Top Secret Colonials wins Revolution Portal of the Year

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On Tuesday, April 18th at the Student Excellence Awards, the Top Secret Colonials was awarded the Revolution Portal of the Year. The organization received a check for $200. TSC received the award because it was the most active organization on OrgSync.

OrgSync is a Campus Engagement Network that connects students to organizations, programs, and departments on campus in a private online community. This is the first year that Robert Morris University has used OrgSync for its student organizations and activities.

The Top Secret Colonials’ OrgSync page lists various events that the organization has hosted. This allows TSC members to RSVP to these events. The page also lists other news and information about the organization. You can visit the TSC OrgSync page here.

Congratulations to Top Secret Colonials on winning this award!

Posted below are pictures of the check that the Top Secret Colonials received and the organization’s OrgSync profile.

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TSC OrgSync

Dr. Wenli Wang receives Best Research Paper Award, Honorable Mention, at IACIS 2016

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wenli-research-awardDr. Wenli Wang of the Computer and Information Systems Department received the Best Paper Award for Research, Honorable Mention, for her research paper A Learning Module for Advanced Cryptology at the 56th Annual International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS) conference, held October 5 – October 8, 2016 in Nashville, TN.

Academic research papers accepted and presented at the IACIS conference are published in Issues in Information Systems (IIS). This academic journal publication is a double-blind refereed, serial publication of IACIS that is registered with the U.S. Library of Congress (ISSN 1529-7314).

This is the second Best Paper award that Dr. Wang has received from IACIS (also in 2013). Congratulations to Dr. Wenli Wang on her continued dedication to excellence in scholarship.

RMU’s Online Cyber Forensics & Information Security Degree Ranks #6 on TheBestSchools.org

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Best-schools-seal-e1429029986386Robert Morris University’s online Bachelor in Cyber Forensics & Information Security Degree ranked #6 of  “The 12 Best Online Bachelor in Information Assurance & Security Degree Programs” by TheBestSchools.org.

TheBestSchools.org selected RMU’s program based on several weighted factors, including academic excellence, course offerings, faculty strength, and reputation, including reputation for online degree programs.

Comparable programs that were compared to RMU cover similar subjects such as data protection, software security, hackers, Internet security, network security, network and computer forensics, security infrastructure design, e-commerce, and telecommunication systems. The programs also cover ethical and legal responsibilities.

Read the article here:
http://www.thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-bachelors-information-assurance-security-degree-programs/

Professor Robert Skovira Named IACIS Computer Educator of the Year

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Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 12.11.39 AMRobert Skovira, Ph.D., University Professor of Computer and Information Systems at Robert Morris University, has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the IACIS Computer Educator of the Year award.

Professor Skovira has taught at Robert Morris University at both the undergraduate and graduate level for more than 30 years. His recent teaching focus has been Java programming, Ethical issues in computing, Web development and programming, and Knowledge management. Doctoral courses taught include Ethnography of Information Systems and Knowledge Management. Service to his university includes participating in the CIS Lecture Series and serving on the Graduate Curriculum Committee, the RMU Institutional Review Board, and the ABET task force. He also serves on several academic journal Editorial Review Boards, and supports students as faculty sponsor of Alpha Chi Honor Society and advisor for the student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals. Over the years Professor Skovira has served as Visiting Professor at Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia on three different occasions, and as Visiting Professor at the Academy of Advertising, Bratislava, Slovakia. He currently serves as Co-host of The Doctor is In: A Medical Variety Show shown on local TV.

During his teaching career Professor Skovira has been awarded numerous Faculty Research Fellowships and grants, and his scholarly publications include more than 90 published Journal articles, numerous presentations at academic meetings, and more than 35 published Proceedings. Over the years he served many times as Track Chair for DSI and IRMA, as Chair of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society for Information Science and Chair of the SIG Foundations of Information Science. In 2010 he was honored by being awarded University Professor status.

For over three decades Professor Skovira has brought his knowledge and insight into the Robert Morris classroom, challenging students, advancing knowledge through research and publication, and sharing his knowledge while serving as Visiting Professor at two European Universities. During his long and distinguished career, Professor Skovira has made a significant impact on Information Systems scholarship and education, and we congratulate Professor Robert Skovira on being selected 2015 IACIS Computer Educator of the Year.

RMU Professor John Turchek Wins IBM Faculty Award

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turchekibmFor the second year in a row, John Turchek, head of the Department of Computer and Information Systems (CIS), was awarded the IBM Faculty Award, a distinguished honor given to one full-time professor at an accredited university that offers degree programs in the nominee’s field.

IBM professionals nominated Turchek, professor of computer and information systems, because of his exceptional collaboration in research and teaching using IBM mainframes. The $40,000 award reflects the advancement and reputation of the Robert Morris CIS program in addition to Turchek’s numerous activities in the field, and must be used to enhance mainframe enterprise systems in some fashion. Turchek wants to use this year’s award for educational activities that will help meet the immediate demand for IBM mainframe enterprise systems professionals in the field.

(Excerpt from RMU News)  See the full article here:
http://www.rmu.edu/news_highlights.aspx?id=1108

Congratulations, Professor Turchek!

 

2014 Master the Mainframe Contest – Wall of Fame

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IBM’s Master the Mainframe Contest is a rigorous academic contest that involves learning mainframe technologies.  The contest takes place in three parts – with each part getting significantly more difficult.  It is difficult to finish Part 2 of the contest and extremely difficult to finish Part 3.

During last year’s contest, RMU had 18 students complete both Parts 1 and 2, which is a tremendous accomplishment!  Three of those students went on to complete Part 3, the most rigorous part of the contest.  To put this amazing accomplishment into perspective, only 50 students received Part 3 Honorable Mentions for completing Part 3, out of 4,900 participants.

Out of 4,900 competitors in the U.S. and Canada, RMU had the following results (see here for complete contest results):

  • Part 3 Honorable Mentions:  3 of 50 Part 3 Honorable Mentions
  • Part 2 Finishers: 18 of 313 Part 2 Finishers

We are proud to announce the following RMU winners for 2014:

RMU Part 3 Honorable Mentions

  • David Conley
  • Torrie McLaughlin
  • Daniel Owiti

RMU Part 2 Finishers 

  • Ahmad Aljuryyed
  • Timothy Brown
  • Ashley Cain
  • David Conley
  • John Dummer
  • David Harouse
  • Kevin Kalan
  • Monica Kodali
  • Kory Kozlowski
  • Anthony Kupchick
  • Joan Lewis
  • John Marcavage
  • Torrie McLaughlin
  • Daniel Owiti
  • Samantha Reitz
  • Melissa Roman
  • Trapp Thompson
  • Brandon Zink

David Conley, one of the Part 3 Honorable Mention winners, described the experience as a positive one, saying, “Part 3 of the contest involved sorting files by use of JCL commands, access to a DB2 database, and the creation of reports using data contained in that database.  All are skills that will compliment what is learned in class , look good on a resume, and provide confidence in your new abilities.”  David is a graduate student in the MS Information Systems Management program.

Torrie McLaughlin, another of the Part 3 Honorable Mention winners, had the following advice for other students, “I entered the contest because I thought it would be fun, and I enjoy games that test my intelligence. I would definitely recommend the contest for CIS majors of any type, not just Mainframe specific. It was lots of fun and a great experience.” Torrie is a student in the Integrated Bachelor/Masters program working toward an BS in Information Sciences and an MS in Competitive Intelligence Systems.

Daniel Owiti, the final of the Part 3 Honorable Mention winners, had much to share about his positive experience with the contest.  He says, “When I joined Robert Morris University in 2012, a couple of my professors, in particular Dr. Kovacs, evangelized the growth and potential of IBM Mainframes and the increasing demand for Mainframe professionals. Despite having a misplaced notion of Mainframe being an old technology, my curiosity got the better of me and I enrolled in two enterprise classes in the Spring of 2014.”

He continues, “When asked to enter the IBM Master The Mainframe Contest, my first reaction was, ‘Will I have the time and energy to go through the rigors while working full time, attending classes and spare time for my family?’  But the constant encouragement of one Professor, Packy [Dr. Packy Laverty], led me to enter the ring and see what this contest was made of. My biggest motivation was just gaining knowledge rather than completing the contest. But once started all I said was ‘Aha!.. This is doable’ with each and every step I completed.  Dr. Zeanchock’s very structured and easy to follow class helped a lot.  I am very glad I took the contest and went on to be a Part 2 Finisher and a Part 3 Wall of Famer. Part 3 was most challenging but also the most practical and interesting to work on a real world business application.  I would highly encourage students and anybody with a tech-curiosity to take part.  I look forward to pursuing a career in IBM zEnterprise.”  Daniel is a graduate student pursuing an MS in Internet Information Systems.

We are extremely proud of all of our students for their achievements in this contest and hope that even more CIS students will be interested in the contest in 2015.  Great work, everyone!

Dr. Karen Paullet receives Faculty Distinguished Service Award for 2013-14

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IMG_8701We are proud to announce that Dr. Karen Paullet, Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Systems, is the recipient of this year’s Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Service to RMU in 2013-14!

Dr. Paullet was recognized for her exceptional work in serving the University and our students in engaged learning.  In 2013-14, Dr. Paullet formed and served as advisor to the student organization Top Secret Colonials, one of the most visible and successful student groups to organize in many years at RMU.  She organized the Top Secret Colonials and other CIS students, for two years in a row, to participate in the Washington Center’s National Security academic seminar that focuses on cyber security.  She led fundraising activities, helped the students prepare resumes, coached their presentations, and prepared them for the top-level encounters with government officials that are part of the academic seminar.  Her efforts were instrumental in RMU’s being named the Washington Center’s Academic Seminar Institution of the Year in 2014.

In addition, Dr. Paullet served the University by her frequent presentations to government, corporate, and non-profit groups on cyber forensics and information security, and by her extensive recruiting efforts aimed at high school students.

Congratulations, Dr. Paullet!