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Welcome to the fourth annual Cybersecurity Across Disciplines (CyAD) Summit hosted by the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCyTE)! 
  • The schedule is tentative and subject to change. Please check back regularly for the most current version.
  • Important Notice: Only fully registered attendees can log in and create a personal schedule. CyAD registrants check your email inbox or junk folder for a Sched invitation. To avoid issues, please add [email protected] to your safe sender list.
  • All sessions are first-come, first-served. While you can plan your schedule in Sched, it does not guarantee a seat in any session.



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Wednesday, June 24
 

7:15am CDT

Registration Open and Badge Pick-Up
Wednesday June 24, 2026 7:15am - 4:00pm CDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 7:15am - 4:00pm CDT
BLDG M Lobby

7:30am CDT

Breakfast
Wednesday June 24, 2026 7:30am - 8:00am CDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 7:30am - 8:00am CDT
BLDG M Moraine Foyer

8:00am CDT

Day 2 Opening Remarks
Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT

Speakers
avatar for Michele Robinson

Michele Robinson

Executive Director/Principal Investigator, Whatcom Community College
Michele Robinson is currently the Senior Director/Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Cyber Training and Education (NCyTE) Center and the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC) at Whatcom Community College. With 20+ years of leadership at senior/executive levels in information... Read More →
avatar for John L Sands

John L Sands

Professor Moraine Valley Community College, Moraine Valley Community College
Dr. John Sands brings over 38 years of extensive experience in information technology management, cyber defense, and artificial intelligence. He earned his Ph.D. from Colorado State University and has dedicated the past three decades to advancing technology education as a distinguished... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT
BLDG M Moraine Rooms

8:30am CDT

Keynote: The Power of Partnership: Securing Critical Infrastructure Together
Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
As cyber threats grow in scale, speed, and sophistication, no single sector can defend in isolation and when a major cyber incident occurs it rarely stays in one lane. This powerhouse plenary panel brings together leaders from multiple critical infrastructure sectors to examine the evolving threat landscape and the shared risks that increasingly span sector boundaries. Moderated by the Chair of the National Council of Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) and President and CEO of Health-ISAC, panelists from IT-ISAC, Automotive ISAC and REN-ISAC (Research & Education Networks), will discuss real-world challenges in information sharing, incident response, and resilience, highlighting lessons learned from recent cross-sector cyber events. The discussion will focus on actionable strategies for strengthening collaboration between ISACs, academia, private industry, and government partners to improve collective defense. Attendees will gain insights into practical approaches for enhancing trust, accelerating threat intelligence exchange, and building sustained cyber resilience across the national critical infrastructure ecosystem.Learning Objectives
  • Explain how modern cyber incidents propagate across multiple critical infrastructure sectors and why interdisciplinary, cross‑sector thinking is essential for technician and workforce preparation.
  • Identify the collaboration patterns ISACs use during incidents (e.g., shared situational awareness, sector‑to‑sector coordination, joint mitigation guidance) and how those can be adapted into interdisciplinary courses, labs, and capstones.
  • Learn about skill sets needed to combat critical infrastructure threats and build resilience.

Speakers
avatar for Denise Anderson

Denise Anderson

President and CEO, Health ISAC
Denise Anderson, MBA, is President and CEO of the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC), a global, non-profit organization dedicated to providing a trusted forum for timely and valuable situational awareness health sector companies can use to make informed... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Bigham

Sarah Bigham

Lead Security Analyst, REN-ISAC
Sarah joined the REN-ISAC Operations team in March 2014. As Lead Security Analyst, her day-to-day responsibilities include managing the REN-ISAC Blended Threat Resiliency Workshops, handling CSIRT & InfoSec duties, and liaising with the National Council of ISACs (NCI), FBI, DHS, and... Read More →
avatar for Carey Garback

Carey Garback

Education and Awareness Leader, Auto-ISAC
Carey Garback is a Learning & Development leader with over 20 years of experience directing and designing training programs for Fortune 500 organizations, including American Express, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Microsoft, Home Depot, Kaiser Permanente, and CVS Health. She has worked... Read More →
avatar for Kaitlyn Palatucci

Kaitlyn Palatucci

Director, Partnerships and Strategy, IT-ISAC
Kaitlyn Palatucci leads membership, operations, and partnerships for both the Food and Agriculture - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) and the Information Technology - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC). In this dual role, she bridges critical... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
BLDG M Moraine Rooms

10:00am CDT

Mid-Day Break 1
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
BLDG M Moraine Foyer

10:00am CDT

Sweet Connections: Faculty & Fellows Meet & Greet
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Take a break that builds your future. Located near the mid-day break area, Sweet Connections is a relaxed, 30-minute meet-and-greet designed to connect cybersecurity teaching fellows with faculty members.

NCyTE’s Faculty Fellowship Program addresses the community college cybersecurity faculty shortage by preparing bachelor’s and master’s students to explore careers in teaching. Meet these exceptional recent and soon-to-be graduates who are ready to complete a short teaching assignment at a community college. Fellows are available for placements between July 1 and August 1, with assignments completed by September 4, 2026.

This informal gathering is intended to help spark mentor connections, collaboration, and future teaching partnerships in a fun and welcoming environment. Enjoy snacks, conversation, and a chance to connect around shared interests and expertise. If your college has a current or upcoming faculty need, this is a simple, low-pressure way to connect with emerging talent. If you’ve been thinking about mentoring, hosting, or just expanding your network, this is a great place to start.

Grab something sweet, meet someone new, and help build the next generation of cybersecurity educators.
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
BLDG M Lobby

10:30am CDT

Keynote: The Most Underrated Advantage in Business:  Being Human
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT
For many, the leaders we look up to possess qualities that make them - and their positions - feel untouchable.   Whether in person or on our screens they appear poised, articulate, masters of their domain, living lives most can only dream of.  The truth, however, is far more complicated and surprisingly relatable.  In fact, you have more in common with your heroes than you ever thought possible.  In this talk, Parham Eftekhari distills his lessons learned from 20+ years engaging with leaders at the highest levels of government and industry.  Through honest, often funny, and sometimes raw storytelling, attendees will leave with a renewed sense of confidence and a clearer understanding that the ability to lead, influence, and create impact isn't reserved for a select few. It starts with embracing the most underrated advantage in business and in life... being human.
Speakers
avatar for Parham Eftekhari

Parham Eftekhari

EVP, CyberRisk Alliance
Parham Eftekhari is a builder of communities, companies, and relationships. Guided by four core values – humility, empathy, resilience, and kindness – he has spent two decades working at the intersection of critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, emerging technology, and national... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT
BLDG M Moraine Rooms

11:30am CDT

Working Lunch
Wednesday June 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Pick up your lunch in the foyer and proceed to the Moraine Rooms for the lunch panel and discussion.
Wednesday June 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
BLDG M Moraine Foyer

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Plenary Speaker/Panel
Wednesday June 24, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
BLDG M Moraine Rooms

1:15pm CDT

AI-Proof Assignments for Cybersecurity Classes in an Online Environment
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
The rapid adoption of generative AI has significantly altered how students approach coursework in online cybersecurity programs, creating new challenges for assessment integrity and meaningful skill evaluation. This presentation explores practical strategies for designing AI-resistant assignments that prioritize authentic learning and demonstrable technical competence over traditional written submissions. Rather than focusing on restrictive policies or detection tools, the session highlights assessment approaches that naturally limit inappropriate AI use by requiring students to show their work through observable actions, verifiable outcomes, and individualized responses. Examples include performance-based tasks, validation of technical artifacts, and student-led video presentations in which learners explain their process, reasoning, and results in their own words. By shifting the emphasis from static deliverables to student accountability and real-time demonstration, these methods reduce the effectiveness of generative AI while better aligning assessments with real-world cybersecurity expectations. Attendees will gain insight into how thoughtfully designed assignments can both preserve academic integrity and improve student engagement in fully online environments. The session is intended for educators seeking adaptable, experience-driven assessment ideas that evolve alongside emerging AI technologies without sacrificing rigor or authenticity.
Speakers
avatar for Jesse Varsalone

Jesse Varsalone

Collegiate Associate Professor, Cybersecurity Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus Cyberteam
Jesse Varsalone is currently an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Technology and the Cyber Team Coach at University of Maryland University Global Campus. Jesse is also one of the coaches for the United States Cyber Games team. He is also the director of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
BLDG T-101/102

1:15pm CDT

Integrating Local LLMs in Higher Education for Privacy, Security and Cost Effectiveness
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
This workshop explores the value of using large local language models (LLMs) in educational settings, with a focus on tools such as Ollama, Llama and LangChain. Participants will learn how running LLMs locally can enhance data security and protect student privacy by keeping sensitive information off external servers. This is often a regulatory requirement for educational institutions. The session also highlights cost-effectiveness, showing how schools and universities can reduce or eliminate recurring subscription and API fees while maintaining powerful AI capabilities with local LLMs. Designed for educators and students, the workshop includes practical examples and use cases that demonstrate how local LLMs can support teaching, learning, and experimentation in a responsible, accessible, and sustainable way.

Many vendors offer free access to their cloud-based LLMs for students and educators. However, these free tools have usage limits and are not suitable for prompts or documents containing personally identifiable information. Local LLMs complement, but doesnʻt replace, the use of these cloud-based LLMs.
Speakers
avatar for Debasis Bhattacharya

Debasis Bhattacharya

Professor, University of Hawaii Maui College
Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya (Debāśiṣ Bhaṭṭāchārya, দেবাশীষ ভট্টাচার্য, देवाशीष भट्टाचार्य) is a tenured Professor at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and serves as Program Coordinator for the Applied... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T-925

1:15pm CDT

Challenge Accepted: Real-World Problem Solving Through Experiential Learning at Scale
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
The NCyTE Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge (VCCC) is a scalable, experiential learning initiative designed to introduce students to real-world cybersecurity roles through hands-on, team-based problem solving. Delivered in a fully virtual environment, the Challenge engages participants in realistic scenarios aligned with industry frameworks, emphasizing technical skills, critical thinking, and professional competencies. The NCyTE VCCC strengthens talent pipelines and demonstrates learners education has prepared them for entry into the cybersecurity workforce. This session will highlight the Challenge’s design, implementation, and impact on student engagement and career readiness. 
Speakers
avatar for Michele Robinson

Michele Robinson

Executive Director/Principal Investigator, Whatcom Community College
Michele Robinson is currently the Senior Director/Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Cyber Training and Education (NCyTE) Center and the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC) at Whatcom Community College. With 20+ years of leadership at senior/executive levels in information... Read More →
avatar for Dr Vincent Nestler

Dr Vincent Nestler

Associate Professor, CSUSB and Senior Personnel, NCyTE Center, California State University San Bernardino
Vincent Nestler, Ph.D. Vincent holds a doctoral degree in instructional design, a masters in both network security from Capitol College, and M.A.T. from Columbia University. He is the author of the Principles of Computer Security, Lab Manual, published by McGraw Hill. He is a network... Read More →
avatar for Dustin Bessette, Ed.D

Dustin Bessette, Ed.D

Instructor & Advisor, Mt. Hood Community College
Dustin Bessette is a quality-oriented, cyber, business, and data instructor teaching at Mt. Hood Community College. Dustin has 15 years of creating quality process improvements to the organizational structure for NY State Parks and Recreation and Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation. These... Read More →
avatar for Mike Corona-Gonzalez

Mike Corona-Gonzalez

Cyberlabs System Administrator and NCyTE VCCC Technical Support, California State University San Bernardino, Center for Cyber and AI
Mike Corona-Gonzalez is a cybersecurity professional with a focus on , IT infrastructure, security architect, infrastructure, system administration, and AI research. He currently serves as a Cyberlabs System Administrator for Cyberlabs at the CSUSB Center for Cyber and AI, where he... Read More →
AS

Andrew Stone

Associate Professor, Suffolk County Community College

Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T-403

1:15pm CDT

Deploying CTFd with Docker for Live Capture the Flag
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
This hands-on session introduces participants to hosting Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions using CTFd, an open-source CTF platform. The ses sion begins with a brief overview of how CTFs are used in education, workforce training, and outreach to develop practical cybersecurity skills such as problem solving, analysis, and teamwork.
Participants will then install Docker and deploy CTFd live on their own laptops, following a step-by-step walkthrough. The session demonstrates how to launch a functional CTF instance, access the administrative interface, configure basic settings, and create a sample challenge suitable for instructional use. Common setup issues, classroom considerations, and environment safety practices will be discussed throughout the session.

By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a working CTFd environment and the foundational knowledge needed to host their own Capture the Flag events for students, trainees, or community programs.
Speakers
avatar for Kristine Christensen

Kristine Christensen

Professor, Computer Information Systems / Director, Faculty Development / PI, Explore Cyber, Moraine Valley Community College
Dr. Kristine Christensen is a Professor of Computer Information Systems at Moraine Valley Community College with more than twenty years of experience teaching and developing curriculum in web development, user interface design, programming, networking, robotics, and engineering technology... Read More →
avatar for Eric Renegar

Eric Renegar

Professor, Sinclair College
Eric Renegar is a professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity with extensive experience in networking, cybersecurity education, and hands-on technical training. He teaches at the community college level, where his work focuses on building practical, skills-based learning... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T-701

2:15pm CDT

Industry-led Experiences moving AI across multiple disciplines and populations
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
This session will share actual experiences including successes, challenges, and risks in moving AI across multiple technical disciplines and across multiple populations (national, regional, local). Presenters will share actual experiences working with AI and other industry leaders to improve workforce preparation of students.  Panelists will share their actual experiences.  Dr. Beheler will moderate the panel and will share her work with Miami Dade College, the National Applied AI Consortium NSF grant, National NSF Centers, and a state-wide initiative to integrate AI content across curriculum with strong industry guidance.  Dr. Wosczyna-Birch will share work that has been done on the national level through the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing to provide guidance to colleges on how to incorporate AI content into learning to better prepare the workforce in various fields of manufacturing.  Dr. Jones will share his work on implementing the network and AI tools first for his college as a means for students in multiple disciplines to immediately work together using AI tools.  
Speakers
avatar for Ann Beheler

Ann Beheler

Dir. of Innovation at CORD; BILT DIrector for National Applied AI Consortium at MDC; BILT Director for NCNGM and other C, CORD/Miami Dade College/NCNGM
Dr. Ann Beheler leads the Business Industry Leadership Team (BILT) high employer engagement model she developed through the NSF National Convergence Technology Center (IT) and is a major supporter of innovation. The model is in use to lead employer teams for college and university... Read More →
avatar for Kyle Jones

Kyle Jones

Professor/AI Fellow, Sinclair Community College
Kyle Jones is the Assistant Dean of Technology, Grants, and External Partnerships and an AI Faculty Fellow Professor at Sinclair Community College. He leads initiatives at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and workforce development, with... Read More →
KW

Karen Wosczyna-Birch

PI for NCNGM, NCNGM
To be provided
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T Fogelson Theater

2:15pm CDT

When AI Fails Undetected: Rethinking Institutional Governance, Operations, and Leadership
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming woven into how higher-education institutions teach, operate, and make decisions. Yet many of the most consequential AI risks rarely surface as obvious cybersecurity failures. Instead, they emerge quietly through routine use, opaque model behavior, and unclear ownership, often slipping past traditional IT and security controls until trust, compliance, or institutional credibility is already in jeopardy. Drawing on experience building and governing enterprise-scale AI platforms in regulated environments, this presentation examines how AI can reshaping institutional operating models, risk management practices, and lines of accountability. It highlights why cybersecurity teams increasingly find themselves inheriting risks created upstream by governance gaps, and why mitigating AI-driven threats demands leadership, policy clarity, and cross-functional alignment rather than technical controls alone. The presentation concludes by looking forward to the opportunities AI makes possible. When thoughtfully integrated, AI can expand how institutions teach, learn, and collaborate across disciplines. It offers higher education the chance not only to adapt to change, but to actively shape the future it serves.
Speakers
avatar for Bich-Thuy Le

Bich-Thuy Le

Founder, President, LeLumin, LLC
Bich-Thuy Le is an award-winning technology executive, AI patent holder, and enterprise transformation leader with 25+ years of experience shaping strategy, leading modernization, building first-of-the-kind platforms and solutions, and delivering business value at scale. Across Fortune... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T-924

2:15pm CDT

Embedding Cybersecurity Awareness into Strategic Management Business Course through Community-Engaged Learning
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
This session presents a scalable, community-engaged instructional model that embeds cybersecurity awareness into a strategic management business course without requiring technical prerequisites. Students conducted comprehensive strategic analyses of local businesses that integrated traditional competitive, operational, and environmental factors with an explicit evaluation of cybersecurity awareness, data protection practices, and organizational risk exposure. Based on their analyses, student teams developed context-specific, actionable recommendations aligned with each firm’s size, industry, and digital maturity.

The project culminated in two public-facing components: poster presentations at an institutional symposium and a community cybersecurity awareness workshop open to students, local businesses, and residents. This dual-audience approach reinforced professional communication skills while extending cybersecurity education beyond the classroom. Business owners reported increased awareness of cyber risks and appreciation for student-generated insights, while students demonstrated heightened understanding of ethical responsibility, risk management, and regulatory considerations.

The session illustrates how business programs can meaningfully contribute to cybersecurity talent pipelines through interdisciplinary, applied learning. During the session, participants will examine project design, assessment strategies, and implementation logistics, followed by a guided interactive activity to adapt the model to their own disciplines and institutional contexts. Emphasis will be placed on feasibility, academic–industry collaboration, and workforce-relevant skill development across non-technical programs.
Speakers
avatar for Tatyana Pashnyak

Tatyana Pashnyak

Lecturer of Business, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tatyana Pashnyak is an educator with almost three decades of experience spanning middle school, high school, community college, four-year college, and university levels. She earned a BS in Middle Grades Education and M.Ed. in Business Education degrees from University of West Georgia... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T-404

2:15pm CDT

Using AI to Create a More Inclusive Workplace for Neurodivergent Talent
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the growing popularity of AI is transforming various aspects of our workplace experience. One area where AI is making a significant impact is in learning and development. AI can be a game-changer for workplace inclusion, in particular for neurodivergent employees, which make up roughly 20% of the population. AI can equalize the playing field by assisting neurodivergent employees by automating repetitive tasks, offering real-time assistance and sensory support, and personalizing work experiences for greater productivity. More this technology can also benefit non-neurodivergent employees. In this session, attendees will learn to understand the challenges faced by neurodivergent employees in the workplace, identify AI tools to address those challenges, and balance AI benefits and risks with ethical implementation.
Speakers
avatar for Joy Toney

Joy Toney

Senior Program Manager, AIM For Change LLC
Joy Toney serves as a Senior Program Consultant for AIM for Change, LLC. Joy’s career successes are mapped over 20+ years professional experience in non-profit, consumer services, government contracting, and transportation and distribution. Joy enjoys utilizing her skills in process... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
BLDG T-926

3:00pm CDT

Mid-Day Break 2
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Building T Main Lobby

3:00pm CDT

Sweet Connections: Faculty & Fellows Meet & Greet
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Take a break that builds your future. Located right beside the mid-day break area, Sweet Connections is a relaxed, 30-minute meet-and-greet designed to connect cybersecurity teaching fellows with faculty members.

NCyTE’s Faculty Fellowship Program addresses the community college cybersecurity faculty shortage by preparing bachelor’s and master’s students to explore careers in teaching. Meet these exceptional recent and soon-to-be graduates who are ready to complete a short teaching assignment at a community college. Fellows are available for placements between July 1 and August 1, with assignments completed by September 4, 2026.

This informal gathering is intended to help spark mentor connections, collaboration, and future teaching partnerships in a fun and welcoming environment. Enjoy snacks, conversation, and a chance to connect around shared interests and expertise. If your college has a current or upcoming faculty need, this is a simple, low-pressure way to connect with emerging talent. If you’ve been thinking about mentoring, hosting, or just expanding your network, this is a great place to start.

Grab something sweet, meet someone new, and help build the next generation of cybersecurity educators.
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
BLDG T-100A

3:30pm CDT

Balancing Innovation and Risk: Integrating AI Security Awareness into Business Education
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
As artificial intelligence becomes rapidly embedded in modern business workflows, students across disciplines are adopting AI platforms for productivity, analysis, and decision support, often without fully understanding the associated security and privacy risks. This presentation explores the design and delivery of Introduction to AI in Business, a collaboratively taught interdisciplinary course that intentionally integrated cybersecurity principles into a business-focused AI curriculum.

While the course introduced students to the strategic value and operational benefits of AI, it placed particular emphasis on the risks surrounding sensitive, personal, and proprietary information when using public and enterprise AI systems. Several course modules explicitly addressed data exposure, model training risks, prompt leakage, intellectual property concerns, and organizational policy considerations.

To better understand student perspectives, we conducted surveys measuring perceived risk, trust in AI platforms, and awareness of data security implications before and after targeted instructional interventions. This presentation discusses course structure, instructional strategies, and survey findings, highlighting how intentional cross-disciplinary teaching can improve student awareness of AI-related security risks while preserving an appreciation for AI’s transformative potential.

Attendees will gain insight into practical approaches for embedding cybersecurity literacy into non-technical curricula and fostering more security-conscious AI use across academic disciplines.
Speakers
avatar for Reed Nonken

Reed Nonken

Associate Professor Business, University of Maine at Presque Isle
Reed Nonken is an Associate Professor of Business at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, where he teaches across both the Business and Criminal Justice programs and plays a central role in curriculum design, assessment, and academic governance. He is a primary architect of UMPI’s... Read More →
avatar for Seth Woodman

Seth Woodman

Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Program Director, University of Maine at Presque Isle
Seth Woodman is the Cybersecurity Program Director and Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI), where he leads curriculum development, program expansion, and applied learning initiatives across traditional and competency-based modalities... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
BLDG T-924

3:30pm CDT

Developing a Cybersecurity Program at an HBCU Focused on Critical Infrastructure and Agricultural Systems
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
This session presents the institutional journey of West Virginia State University (WVSU), an 1890 land-grant HBCU, in developing its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Participants will learn how WVSU evolved from offering a cybersecurity minor to launching a comprehensive, workforce-driven four-year degree program designed to address critical state and national workforce needs while advancing the university’s land-grant mission.

A central focus of the presentation is WVSU’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach, which embeds cybersecurity within applied domains such as smart farming, precision agriculture, and critical infrastructure protection (SCADA/ICS). The session will examine how aligning the curriculum with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework ensures graduates are well prepared for high-demand cybersecurity roles.

The presentation will also highlight key outcomes and successes, including academic and industry partnerships, student achievements, capacity building efforts, externally funded grants, and community engagement. Overall, this session offers a replicable model for institutions seeking to develop impactful, interdisciplinary cybersecurity programs that serve underrepresented populations while strengthening regional and national cyber resilience.
Speakers
avatar for Naveed Zaman

Naveed Zaman

Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Virginia State University
Dr. Naveed Zaman is Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and professor of mathematics at West Virginia State University, where he leads transformative initiatives in cybersecurity, engineering, and agricultural education. He has spearheaded the development of innovative... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
BLDG T-101/102

3:30pm CDT

Educating for Digital Trust: Building resilience in a world of deepfakes, phishing, and AI-powered deception.
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
Misinformation and social engineering attacks are escalating in scale and sophistication, fueled by generative AI and global threat actors. This session explores how educators and organizations can embed misinformation resilience into cybersecurity curricula and workforce training. We will examine real-world cases, highlight AI’s dual role as both a risk and a defense, and share actionable strategies for preparing students, government employees, and private sector staff. Attendees will learn how to leverage AI-driven tools, behavioral science, and critical thinking exercises to strengthen awareness and build a culture of digital trust.
Speakers
avatar for David Kliemann

David Kliemann

Head of Cloud Risk / Adjunct, IBM / Marquette University
Dave Kliemann is the Head of Cloud Risk for IBM Cloud. He drives the IBM Cloud risk management posture ensuring key hybrid cloud & AI cybersecurity risks and regulatory requirements are managed. Dave also provides support helping clients in regulated industries take a risk-centric... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
BLDG T-926

4:30pm CDT

Student Spotlight: AI-Powered Behavioral Biometrics: Continuous Authentication for Securing Emerging Cyber Systems
Wednesday June 24, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
The different traditional authentication methods such as tokens, passwords and static biometrics continue to fail to protect modern cyber systems, once initial access is compromised. As digital infrastructures across different sectors, such as healthcare, cloud application platforms, and public services become more interconnected and are AI driven these days, cybersecurity must move from one-time authentication to a continuous and an adaptive defense mechanisms.

This Student Spotlight presentation draws from a peer-reviewed research study which was published in the International Journal of Information Security (IJIS) that investigates AI-powered behavioral biometrics for continuous authentication. The research investigates how machine learning models could analyze behavioral patterns, such as interaction dynamics and session behavior - to continuously verify the user’s identity in real time, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access after login.

The presentation will be on the way in which behavioral biometrics have a human-centric and interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity, fusing the skills of AI, human behavior, and security systems, and how it is being applied in critical sectors like healthcare sector, cloud computing, and online government services, among others, with consideration to the ethics of the same and the preparedness of the workforce.

This is going to explain how translating research insights into accessible concepts makes it possible for students and educators to bridge cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human factors to make them even more resilient to emerging cyber threats. The session will emphasize the role of interdisciplinary education and student-led research in shaping the future of AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions.
Speakers
avatar for Abiodun Damilare Adebanjo

Abiodun Damilare Adebanjo

University Graduate Student (Chapter President of NSBE), Western Illinois University
I am currently a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science at Western Illinois University, with a research and leadership interest in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital forensics.

My research interests and expertise cover AI-based techniques and methodologies related to the security of modern cyber infrastructures through continuous authentication, cloud security, and human security models. I am a publication author of a peer-reviewed research study titled... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
BLDG M Moraine Rooms

4:50pm CDT

Day 2 Recap
Wednesday June 24, 2026 4:50pm - 5:00pm CDT

Speakers
avatar for Michele Robinson

Michele Robinson

Executive Director/Principal Investigator, Whatcom Community College
Michele Robinson is currently the Senior Director/Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Cyber Training and Education (NCyTE) Center and the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC) at Whatcom Community College. With 20+ years of leadership at senior/executive levels in information... Read More →
avatar for John L Sands

John L Sands

Professor Moraine Valley Community College, Moraine Valley Community College
Dr. John Sands brings over 38 years of extensive experience in information technology management, cyber defense, and artificial intelligence. He earned his Ph.D. from Colorado State University and has dedicated the past three decades to advancing technology education as a distinguished... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 4:50pm - 5:00pm CDT
BLDG M Moraine Rooms
 
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