Category Archives: campus news

2025 Upsilon Pi Epsilon Scholarship Winners

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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

2025 Three Rivers Info Security Symposium (TRISS) Conference

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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!

TSC Sponsored – Industry Presentation from Nerds to Go

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Join Top Secret Colonials for a Special Industry Presentation on Wednesday, November 12th at 4:30, following the TSC meeting in the Wheatley Atrium. 

Representatives from Nerds to Go, a division of True North, will be visiting campus to share insights into the technology driving their companies. Speakers include Zachary Prytash, Trey Trucksis, and CEO Chuck Bailey, who will discuss their work and the exciting innovations shaping their field.

They’ll also be actively recruiting for internship and full-time job opportunities, so this is a great chance to connect and explore potential career paths.

RMU Ready Points will be awarded to attending students. Pizza will be served.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and network. 

Red Chair Pittsburgh’s Annual Event Held at UPMC Event Center on October 23, 2025

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The annual Red Chair Pittsburgh Annual Event was held at the UPMC Events Center on October 23, 2025. This year’s theme was New Horizons: Empowering Women, Shaping What’s Next.

Welcome remarks were given by RMU’s Provost, Dr. Joe Zimmer. This was followed by a keynote given by Kathleen Lovett, VP & CIO of Supply Chain at VSP Vision. This empowering keynote address was followed by a moderated panel discussion that included a panel of inspiring speakers, including the keynote speaker and four others:

  • Brenasia Ward-Caldwell, CISSP, Senior Solutions Engineer at Microsoft
  • Dr. Karen Paullet, Professor of CIS at RMU
  • Jenn Sydeski, Health Tech & Life Sciences Innovator and Strategist
  • Laura Freedman, Senior Vice President, Wealth Management at Raymond James

The panel was moderated by the talented:

  • Meesha Gerhart, Founder & CEO, RedTree Web Design
Panel Speakers at Red Chair Pittsburgh 2025 (L to R): Jenn Sydeski, Laura Freedman, Brenasia Ward-Caldwell, Dr. Karen Paullet, Kathleen Lovett, and Meesha Gerhart

A number of RMU students were able to attend, network, and become part of this incredible community supporting women in tech.

Red Chair Pittsburgh’s 2025 Annual Event

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The countdown is on! We are just two weeks away from Red Chair Pittsburgh’s 2025 Annual Event, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our incredible community of women in tech, allies, and changemakers.

This year’s theme, New Horizons: Empowering Women, Shaping What’s Next, is all about exploring bold ideas, sparking new connections, and celebrating the future we are building together.

Here’s what you can look forward to:
✨ VIP Experience for deeper networking and meaningful conversations
✨ Dynamic Keynote to inspire innovation and growth
✨ Powerful Panel of bold voices sharing real-world strategies and stories
✨ A Room Full of Trailblazers ready to elevate one another
 

📅 Date: October 23, 2025
⌚ Time: 6:00 PM
🧭 Location: UPMC Events Center


 

🎟️ Seats are limited, and the countdown is ticking. Secure your ticket today before they’re gone!
👉 Get Your Ticket Now 

We are a 100% volunteer organization. Your donations (big or small), sponsorships, and ticket purchases directly support the opportunities we are able to offer to future candidates.

RMU has a limited number of discounted tickets available for students. Please contact Dr. Paullet (paullet@rmu.edu) for more details.

We hope to see you soon for an unforgettable evening of empowerment, connection, and celebration.

Dr. Jamie Pinchot Receives Ben Bauman Award for Excellence at IACIS 2025

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Dr. Jamie Pinchot received the Ben Bauman Award for Excellence at the International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS) 2025 Conference in Clearwater, FL, on October 3, 2025.  (conference link here)

The Ben Bauman Award for Excellence honors faculty members who have demonstrated significant contributions and dedication to the field of information systems, including service to their university and community.

Dr. Pinchot was recognized during the ceremony as a distinguished academic who has taught at the university level for over 20 years with a teaching portfolio that spans undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses. Her scholarly research has focused on the areas of information privacy and security, mobile technologies, social media and online human behavior, and human-centered design in software development. Further, she has chaired 15 doctoral dissertation committees and served on an additional 33 dissertation committees during her tenure at RMU. Dr. Pinchot has also served RMU as Director of the Ph.D. in Information Systems and Communications and currently serves as Department Head for the Computer and Information Systems department, where she oversees 5 undergraduate programs, 6 Master’s degree programs, and the Ph.D. program. She has also served as Co-PI on two NSF grants and has been RMU’s representative for the National Center for Women & Technology (NCWIT). Dr. Pinchot’s full bio can be found here.

(left to right, Evan Kinney, Dr. G. Alan Davis, Dr. Natalya Bromall, Dr. Sushma Mishra, Dr. Jamie Pinchot, Dr. John Stewart, Shadrack Oriaro, Dr. Karen Paullet, and Amy Kulikowski)

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Pinchot on this award, honoring her impressive record of service as a teacher, scholar, and administrator in the field of information systems.

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Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

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We are recruiting students to participate in the 2025-26 RMU team for CCDC (Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition).

See more information at https://maccdc.org/ and https://www.nationalccdc.org/

If you are interested in participating in this cyber competition, please contact the team faculty coach Dr. Nader Kesserwan by email at kesserwan@rmu.edu no later than this Thursday, September 18 , and attach a brief 1-2 page resume including any technical background and cyber competition experience for consideration. Team size is limited. 

Fall 2025 Career & Internship Fair

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We’re taking RMU’s Career & Internship Fair to the next level on the Arena Floor of the UPMC Events Center. This dynamic setting is your chance to explore opportunities, make connections, and launch your career!

Whether you’re seeking an internship, part-time job, or full-time role, this is a must-attend event for students and alumni. With 90+ employers across diverse industries, you’ll have the chance to showcase your skills, build valuable connections, and even earn Golden Tickets by making a strong impression on employers. Don’t miss the chance to get a FREE professional headshot to refresh your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles.

Attend the “Prepare for the Fair” Event

Join us at the Career Center to get fair-ready with top employers. You can:

  • Get your resume reviewed
  • Practice your elevator pitch
  • Ask career-related questions
  • Explore the Colonial Closet to find professional attire options for the fair

Meet with an employer & get FREE Kona Ice!

REGISTER FOR THE FAIR!

The Career & Internship Fair is your chance to build confidence, grow your career readiness, and take the next step toward success!

Prepare and Maximize Your Success

Take charge of your future success by using the resources designed to help you feel confident and career-ready.

Fair Details

  • Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
  • Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
  • Location: UPMC Events Center (Arena Floor), Robert Morris University

Shine Bright with the Golden Ticket Campaign

Make a lasting impression at the fair by being engaging, professional, and authentic! Stand out to employers to earn Golden Tickets – there’s no limit to how many you can collect. Each ticket you earn gives you one entry into our raffle for a reMarkable 2 tablet!

Huge thanks to K&L Gates, our Golden Ticket Partner, for supporting our students’ career readiness!

REGISTER FOR THE FAIR!

Fall 2025 Case Competition: Trusted AI for Banking

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Sponsored by PNC Bank and hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, Corporate Startup Lab is proud to announce its Fall 2025 Case Competition! 

The theme for the Competition is Trusted AI for Banking.  You will attempt to provide a solution through transformative innovation ideas, products, or services.  

Registration closes September 20th: Registration Link for CSL Case Competition

Registered teams will receive the full prompt on September 21st, with the first round of submissions due on October 4th at 11:59PM. 

Finalists will be announced on October 9th, with Final Presentations given on CMU’s campus on October 23rd. 

Following a celebratory lunch and a brief ceremony, the top three teams will be publicly recognized and will receive cash prizes totaling $20,000, including $12,000 for the first-place team.

The competition is open to all Graduate and PhD students at any U.S. based college or university. You must have a team consisting of 3-4 students to enter.

For more