Category Archives: awards and recognition

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!

 

The Washington Center names RMU Academic Seminar University of the Year

Robert Morris University has been named the 2014 Academic Seminar University of the Year by the prestigious Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

Recently, a group of thirty-two RMU cyber forensics and information security students traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in The Washington Center’s academic seminar program. The seminar was based on issues of National Security and gave the students an opportunity to learn from leading national security experts. As well as this being an excellent learning opportunity, this served as an opportunity for networking with national security leaders.

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The Washington Center chose Robert Morris University as its academic seminar of the year based on many factors; some factors being the Top Secret Colonials fundraising efforts, preparation for the trip, and devotion of the students and faculty regarding the seminar itself.

The students were lucky to have been at the seminar in D.C. while there was extreme information security controversy happening here in Pittsburgh, PA. The group happened to be visiting the Chinese Embassy just hours after it was announced that the U.S. government filed criminal charges of cyber espionage against Chinese officials for allegedly having hacked some of Pittsburgh’s foremost industrial providers including Alcoa, Westinghouse, and U.S. Steel.

Many students having participated in the trip have become advocates for the importance of this seminar, as well as their student-run organization, Top Secret Colonials. TSC secretary, Jake Pancari, stated, “The seminar is a life changing opportunity, something I never could have experienced by just going to class all the time. We witnessed history in the making while we were there, and I got to meet so many influential people working in DC. It’s easily one of the best decisions I’ve made in my time at RMU.”