iConnect Magazine
Career Solutions helps students succeed in the job market
For the past eight years, students at the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) have been gaining an edge in the job market by networking with corporate representatives at Pro Expo, a career fair designed specifically for the college. The 2012 Pro Expo, which was held Sept. 10 in the IST Building, was even more successful than in past years, as new companies were represented at the fair. The Pro Expo is organized by the IST Office of Career Solutions, which helps students prepare for, and maximize, internship and job opportunities, in addition to other post-graduate plans.
IST students lead technological advances for Homecoming and THON
Two of the most time-honored traditions at Penn State are Homecoming and the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON. Nicki Yankoski and Chris Kessler, College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students, have taken on leadership roles in Homecoming and THON, respectively, giving those traditions a 21st century tweak through the Internet and new technologies.
New faculty strengthen the core of technological expertise at IST
One of the hallmarks of the College of IST is its distinguished faculty representing diverse areas such as computer science, business, psychology, and women’s studies. In the 2012-2013 academic year, IST welcomed several new professors who are contributing their expertise to the more technical side of the IST spectrum in disciplines such as mediated learning, computer programming, computational cognition, and web design and development.
Study abroad in Spain: Challenging classes, ample fun for Theo Schnieders
Theo Schnieders, a senior at Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology, discovered both the challenges and joys of Spanish culture while studying at the University of Barcelona during the spring 2012 semester. While his academic workload was rather unforgiving, he said, Spain has an easygoing lifestyle that always leaves room for fun and relaxation.
Research News
The Fall 2012 semester was extremely productive for IST faculty members and graduate students. Several individuals won awards at conferences for their ground-breaking research in areas such as truth-telling on social networks, crowdsourcing and cross-cultural issues in online communications. A grant from the National Science Foundation will support an innovative security monitoring system that is being developed by Dr. Dinghao Wu and Dr. Peng Liu, and an online image analysis system that has been in development by the James Z. Wang Research Group since 2010 has the potential to revolutionize amateur photography.
Donor Spotlight: Ronald Segal
Ronald Segal, CEO and chairman of the board for Spectrum Systems, Inc., based in Fairfax, Va., has been a long-time supporter of the College of IST. He and his wife, Beverly, have contributed more than $45,000 to the college since 2005. Their scholarship, the Harry L. Segal Scholarship, was created to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the College of IST.
Brendan DeBow (IST ’03) DeBow supports wireless infrastructure for the Department of Defense
Wireless technology, which enables information to be transferred between two or more points that are not physically connected, has changed the way people do business and conduct their lives. Brendan DeBow, a 2003 graduate of Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), is helping to make the U.S. safer by bringing emerging wireless technology to the federal government.
