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!
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.)
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:
Furthermore, the symposium shows its commitment to the future of the field by offering a robust education and scholarship program.
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!
IGI Global Scientific Publishing recently announced the winners of its second annual “Reviewer of the Year Award.” This honor is proudly supported by the publisher’s Open Access Journal Program.
To be considered for a nomination, an IGI Global editorial board member had to have actively provided quality, timely peer reviews throughout the previous year (2024).
The award selection process measured performance based on a rigorous set of criteria: the volume of completed reviews, the quality of those reviews, and the timeliness with which they were completed. All of this performance data is meticulously tracked and documented through the publisher’s proprietary system, the eEditorial Discovery System (eED).
Awards were presented to a top editorial review board member and a top associate editor from each of the publisher’s three major disciplinary groups:
This award acknowledges the critical, behind-the-scenes work that sustains the integrity and quality of published research. The winner of the Scientific, Technical, & Medical (STM) category is RMU’s very own Dr. Stephen Mancini.
Dr. Stephen Mancini is considered an expert in leadership, cybersecurity, and understanding the challenges of cybercrime. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Liberty University and a master’s degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He holds various certifications in information systems and project management, and has spent the past 30 years as a leader in cybersecurity and cybercrime for the DHS Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency and the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance.
Dr. Mancini is a distinguished educator and subject-matter expert in cybercrime, cybersecurity, and cyber policy. He has taught at the National Defense University and is currently a faculty member at RMU. He has trained global representatives on these critical issues. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Mancini has authored publications on cyber topics, co-hosts the radio program “Italian Impact Weekly,” and is the Director of the highly acclaimed documentary, “Fedelta. Soldier. Prisoner.”
Job Description:
As an Associate Cybersecurity Engineer within Bayer’s Medical Device Cybersecurity group, you play a crucial role in securing Bayer Radiology medical devices and software against potential cyber threats. Your responsibilities include reviewing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, assessing their likelihood of exploitation, and evaluating potential impacts on the safety and effectiveness of Bayer Radiology medical devices. You will also design and develop solutions to mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with Bayer Radiology medical devices, software, and IT products. This position operates on a global scale, ensuring the security of Bayer’s medical devices worldwide.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
For more information or to submit an application, click here: Cybersecurity Engineer
Please join us for a speaker series presentation sponsored by the Top Secret Colonials. The presentation will be given by Lucas Franklin and will be focused on Advanced Persistent Threats.
Lucas Franklin will be sharing insights from a notable cyber incident he encountered involving suspected Russian advanced persistent threats (APTs) during his tenure at #1 Cochran. Prior to pursuing a graduate degree, Lucas served as the head of cybersecurity at #1 Cochran, where he led efforts to safeguard the organization’s digital infrastructure.
Lucas Franklin earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from IUP in 2022. Shortly after, he joined the IT department at #1 Cochran, where he rapidly took on key responsibilities including overseeing major acquisitions, leading technical training initiatives, and managing cybersecurity operations. In 2024, he departed the company to pursue a Master’s in Cybersecurity at WGU.
RMU is proud to recognize the graduate and doctoral students who presented research at the 2025 International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS) Conference in Clearwater, FL in October.
Evan Kinney (1st year PhD ISC student) presented Precision Check: A Critical Look at the Reliability of AI Detection Tools, co-authored with Tyler Stewart (1st year PhD student), Dr. Karen Paullet, and Dr. Jamie Pinchot.
Amy Kulikowski (1st year PhD ISC student) presented Protecting the United States Defense Industrial Base against Advanced Persistent Threat Attacks.
Shadrack Oriaro (3rd year PhD ISC student) presented Improving Cybersecurity through Explainable Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Literature Review, co-authored with Dr. Sushma Mishra.
Peyton Lutchkus (BS/MS Cybersecurity student) and Charley Tyrrell (BS Psychology student) presented Behind the Screen: Pyschological Motivations and Mental Health Issues in Cybercriminal Behavior.
Reese Martin (MS Cyber Investigations & Intelligence student) presented Facing Your Digital Footprint on College Campuses, co-authored with Dr. Sushma Mishra.
Chloe Dzuba (BS/MS Cybersecurity student) presented Artificial intelligence in Social Engineering: A Literature Review through the Lens of Routine Activity Theory.
Well done, students!
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.
The Computer Information Systems (CIS) Department in the School of Data Intelligence and Technology has received another grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Program (DoD CSA). This grant, titled “Comprehensive Mentoring for DoD Cyber Talent Development,” aims to recruit eligible RMU and transfer students to develop cyber talent for the DoD cyber workforce and enhance the national pipeline for qualified cyber professionals.
For the 2025-26 academic year, this grant will support two selected DoD CSA student scholars and the research of the Principal Investigator on cybersecurity education and mentoring. Each DoD CSA student scholar will receive comprehensive support, including full tuition and fees, a living stipend, a laptop computer, and a textbook allowance. Scholars are also eligible to take up to the maximum number of credits allowed per semester at RMU. Additionally, the DoD CSA students will have paid summer internships and will be placed in professional cybersecurity positions within DoD agencies.
This marks the fourth time RMU has received the DoD CSA grant, demonstrating the university’s ongoing success in maintaining its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (NCAE-CDE) by NSA/DHS. This designation must remain in good standing to qualify for this competitive grant.
Dr. Ping Wang (CIS) serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for this grant project, which is set to run from September 2025 to December 2026, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year with new funding. R&GA appreciates the support provided by Julianne Michalenko (Director, Office of Scholar Development) for this grant application. The grant is valued at $165,554 for the 2025-2026+ academic year.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wang!
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is now accepting applications for two dynamic internship programs, both open to current students and recent graduates.
Research Student Internships (RSI):
Work alongside world-class scientists and engineers tackling major challenges in energy, environment, national security, and more. Areas include biology, supercomputing, nuclear science, and beyond.
Technical and Professional Internships (TPI):
Gain hands-on experience supporting the lab’s mission through roles in IT, communications, finance, HR, cybersecurity, legal counsel, and other key operational areas.
Both programs offer unparalleled access to ORNL’s premier facilities and expert mentors.
Apply or learn more:
RSI: https://lnkd.in/es8_7bzV
TPI: https://lnkd.in/eqm6rSTe
Pathways to Computing Program:
Pathways to Computing Program:
For questions or more information, please email Josh Cunningham cunninghamjs@ornl.gov
CIS @ RMU 