Dean Andrew Sears establishes educational equity scholarship at College of IST
In response to financial challenges students face when pursuing a college degree, and motivated in part by the significant social justice issues across the country, Andrew Sears, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, and his wife, Beth, have made a gift to establish the Andr
Summer internship aids small businesses struggling during pandemic
As the daughter of small-business owners, College of IST student Erica Mi knew the challenges these companies were facing firsthand.
IST research aims to understand a global pandemic
Since the novel coronavirus began its spread earlier this year, College of Information Sciences and Technology faculty and students have been innovative in addressing a variety of challenges related to COVID-19, including how to equip researchers with the most up-to-date information, how to educa
Summer Founders program showcases record number of teams
Invent Penn State’s 2020 Summer Founders program, a 13-week student startup accelerator, wrapped up Aug. 12 in a virtual showcase after funding seven student-startup teams with $15,000 each to work on their startup, nonprofit, or social good full time over the summer.
The symbol of our best: Penn State Nittany Lion mascot revealed
For three years, Class of 2020 graduate Zach Sowa lived a double life: He was a College of Information Sciences and Technology student and the face of Penn State — the Nittany Lion mascot. How did he balance his time and manage to keep one of the University's best-kept secrets?
Student startup accelerates advancements of augmented reality
Two Penn State students have co-founded Xora, a platform aimed at allowing more people to create augmented reality experiences by making them easier to develop, and one of seven startups selected to participate in this year's Summer Founders Program.
Seven IST students chosen for Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
Seven students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology have been chosen for the prestigious Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program in the 2020 cycle.
Program introduces students to machine learning and security research
This summer, three undergraduate students from three higher education institutions got an exclusive, in-depth introduction to research topics focused on machine learning in cybersecurity through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates site program sponsored by National Science of Foundation a
Penn State junior Jessica Strait named Cargill Global Scholar
Jessica Strait, a Penn State junior studying Applied Data Sciences, has earned a spot in the 2020 Cargill Global Scholars program.
Candice Sheaffer named College of IST student marshal for summer commencement
The College of Information Sciences and Technology has named Candice Sheaffer as student marshal for the University’s summer 2020 commencement. Sheaffer will earn her degree in security and risk analysis, information and cyber security option, through Penn State World Campus.
IST alumnus, student partner for virtual pet-adoption-internship experience
When College of Information Sciences and Technology alumnus Kurt Heslop needed to update the website for an Oregon-based animal shelter, for which he serves on the board, he sought out a Penn State student to help complete the task.
Building an image classifier to aid in disaster response
This spring, students in the data sciences capstone course at the College of Information Sciences and Technology worked with a team of MIT Lincoln Laboratory Beaver Works researchers to make real-world contributions toward improving image classifiers for disaster response.
Students using AI to help reshape public transportation during COVID-19
Penn State students are using artificial intelligence to analyze how COVID-19 is affecting the number of people who telework and the impact that will make on public transportation in Philadelphia.
Alumnus-driven startup aids IST students seeking internship experiences
When the novel coronavirus pandemic struck, and many College of Information Sciences and Technology students faced challenges in securing summer internships due to public health guidelines, an IST alumnus rose to the occasion to help students get the experience they needed.
Penn State sophomore runs summer STEM program for underprivileged children
As a child, Rahil Mehta found that many science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts weren't taught in a participatory way.
IST student awarded Erickson Discovery Grant to further Tumblr research
Courtney Smith, a rising Penn State junior studying security and risk analysis, recently received a 2020 Erickson Discovery Grant to further her research on parasocial relationships between 18- to 25-year-old Tumblr bloggers and celebrities.
Hacker bootcamp: Alumnus creates cybersecurity experience for IST students
With students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology having offers rescinded from their internship placements, one alumnus launched an eight-week virtual hacker bootcamp to give a group of students professional experiences this summer.
A federal internship in the remote workplace
This summer, as many students acclimate to virtual internship experiences due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, one Penn State World Campus student has just successfully completed an eight-month remote internship with the federal government.
A leader from the start: First-year IST student heads new student organization
Lauren Pearl never imagined she would become so involved with the newest major at the College of Information Sciences and Technology during the first semester of her first year at Penn State, let alone be elected president of a club for its students.
College of IST launches new degree in enterprise technology integration
A new bachelor of science degree in enterprise technology integration degree offered by Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology will launch this fall to help prepare professionals to solve organizational problems through technology systems solutions.
Camilla Beaderman selected for Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship
Camilla Beaderman, a rising junior studying Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, is one of 15 students nationwide to be selected for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship program, sponsored by the U.S.
'The Investment' student startup TV show taping to take place virtually
For the past three years, WPSU, Penn State University Park’s local NPR and PBS affiliate station, and the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) have collaborated to host the statewide Inc.U undergraduate student startup competition.
Mentorship program strengthens professional network for IST students
Sometimes, the greatest lessons come from someone who has lived them. That’s why the College of IST has revitalized its alumni mentorship program — to give students meaningful, real-world and professional guidance from alumni who have experience in the industry.
Projects use technology to assist people with rare medical conditions
There are many health conditions that individuals experience — especially those that are rare or underrepresented — which could benefit from new technologies.
IST student creates app to help underrepresented students find community
A College of Information Sciences and Technology student has created a way to help new students, particularly those who are underrepresented, discover community on campus at the touch of a button.
Competing for views: IST student develops app for extreme sports athletes
Thaddeus Lorenz, senior in information science and technology, wasn’t always sure what his academic path would be. After starting at Penn State in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, he took some classes centered on one of his passions: coding.
College of IST announces spring 2020 student marshals
The College of Information Sciences and Technology will honor two graduates as student marshals at spring 2020 commencement.
Following footsteps on the IST path
Being apart from family is a tough part of college for many students, but Kelly and Kevin Costello are two Penn Staters who were able to spend two years in Happy Valley together — not only on the Penn State campus, but in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
Additional details announced on virtual commencement for the Class of 2020
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, Penn State will host its first virtual commencement. The ceremony will be livestreamed, and available internationally, at https://spring2020.commencement.psu.edu/.
Penn State competes in Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition regional finals
Penn State’s Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) team reached new heights earlier this month when they participated in the regional finals of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for the first time.
Ten student teams compete for $25,000 prize pool in the Nittany AI Challenge
Ten student teams will be funded to use AI for Good to build and submit a minimum viable product in the Nittany AI Challenge for a chance to compete for a portion of a $25,000 prize pool.
Penn State launches online version of its bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity
Penn State is expanding its online portfolio of information technology degrees with one focused on how to prevent and respond to cyber attacks at a time of the rapid growth in the cybersecurity industry.
IST students gather information to help inform emergency management officials
A group of students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology are using their collective knowledge and skills to help inform Penn State emergency management officials during the evolving global coronavirus outbreak.
Two IST undergraduate researchers present at iConference
Two undergraduate researchers from the College of Information Sciences and Technology were invited to present their work in Boras, Sweden, this week at iConference 2020 — a forum through which information scholars, researchers and professionals share their insights on critical information issues
Penn State experts contribute to NATO counterterrorism training curriculum
A new international publication, which will be utilized as a framework for counterterrorism training in organizations around the world, has expert input from several Penn State faculty, students and alumni.
Two College of IST students recognized among 'Top 50 Hackers'
Two College of Information Sciences and Technology students have been named to this year’s list of Top 50 Hackers by Major League Hacking.
IST knowledge translates to creativity for student musician
Nicholas Arndt -- senior, information sciences and technology -- has always had an interest in technology and a passion for music. His experience at Penn State is giving him the opportunity to bring both of his interests together.
Women across IST at Penn State are creating a 'culture of empowerment'
The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology recently hosted a “Sit With Me” initiative, which was held as part of the global campaign powered by the National Center for Women & Information Technology to recognize and validate the important role women play in creating future
Student’s Penn State experience fuels personal growth
Looking back on his Penn State journey, Jonathan Adrien said he is grateful for the opportunity to have evolved into an even better version of himself.
Schreyer Honors scholar applies neural networks to better predict severe storms
As part of his honors thesis, a Penn State and Schreyer Honors student is researching data that could help increase preparation time for severe storm systems.
Profit-prediction system may lower suicide rates among indebted Indian farmers
Researchers from the College of Information Sciences and Technology are taking steps to address the alarming rate of suicides among indebted farmers in India, by developing a deep-learning algorithm as the first step in a decision-support system that could predict future market values of crops.
Bringing the IST community together in support of THON
Katt Shatinsky has been familiar with THON since she was young and remembers seeing students canning for money on her drives through Pennsylvania to visit family. But it wasn’t until her freshman year at Penn State that she realized how much she wanted to get involved.
Program to introduce undergrad researchers to machine learning in cybersecurity
Undergraduate students interested in machine learning in cybersecurity research activities are invited to apply to a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site program, to be hosted this summer at the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
Twenty teams funded to develop 'AI for Good' in the Nittany AI Challenge
Twenty teams have been awarded $500 to pursue their ideas to use artificial intelligence for good in the 2020 Nittany AI Challenge to improve the world by providing solutions for problems within the areas of education, health, humanitarian challenges, sustainability and climate change.
TEDxPSU curator and president gained leadership skills through IST
For Leah Miller, a junior studying data sciences in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, activities outside of the classroom are just as essential to the Penn State experience as education in her classes.
Select IST students get hands-on experience with Penn State IT pros
As thousands of their classmates got a break from classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a handful of Penn State students went to work as the first group to take part in Penn State’s IT Career Exploration Program.
Student who lost his leg in hunting accident has some doors close, others open
RJ Shirey, a sophomore in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, overcame life-changing trauma: a gunshot that led to the amputation of his right leg. Today, he uses his disability to benefit the lives of those around him.
Enhancing a law enforcement career with a Penn State cybersecurity education
With a law enforcement career spanning more than 20 years and an established private investigations firm of his own, Ron Long could be considered an expert in the field of investigative work.
Technology for cosmetics consumers
For their final project, students in the Foundations of Human-Centered Design and Development course in the College of Information Sciences and Technology had the opportunity to gain real-world industry perspective and feedback on the prototypes they spent the semester building.
One family, one college, four different career paths
Many times, attending Penn State is a family tradition, but one family takes that tradition to a whole new level.