The strength of the College of IST is demonstrated through the successes and accomplishments of its students, faculty, alumni, and programs. Read more about how the college and its people are driving innovative change and taking on the challenges of the Information Age.
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Seven IST students chosen for Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
August 14, 2020
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.
An AI algorithm to help identify homeless youth at risk of substance abuse
August 12, 2020
An artificial intelligence algorithm developed by researchers at the College of Information Sciences and Technology could help predict susceptibility to substance use disorder among young homeless individuals, and suggest personalized rehabilitation programs for highly susceptible homeless youth.
2019-20 Teaching and Learning with Technology Faculty Fellows project wrap-up
August 11, 2020
Last academic year, four Penn State instructors worked with teams from Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) to enhance the spaces where students learn.
Program introduces students to machine learning and security research
August 10, 2020
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
August 7, 2020
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
August 7, 2020
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 professor forges partnership with University of Auckland faculty
August 6, 2020
Following his trip last summer to Kazakhstan, Professor of Information Sciences and Technology Alan Peslak and a contingent of University representatives traveled to New Zealand this past winter to engage in a development workshop with faculty members from the University of Auckland.
Associate dean for undergraduate and graduate studies hired in College of IST
August 4, 2020
Jeffrey Bardzell has been named associate dean for undergraduate and graduate studies in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, effective Aug. 1.
IST alumnus, student partner for virtual pet-adoption-internship experience
July 30, 2020
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
July 28, 2020
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.
Nonprofit provides STEAM education to underserved youth in Atlanta
July 28, 2020
Joe Lewis, a 2010 graduate of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, created a nonprofit organization to give children in underserved communities in Atlanta the opportunity to learn about and experience technology after noticing disparities that existed in the city's school syst
Students using AI to help reshape public transportation during COVID-19
July 28, 2020
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.
Project-based learning leads to leadership role for College of IST alumna
July 22, 2020
Shara Beach Ryan’s list of career experiences is quite extensive — she has worked as an advertising campaign manager, front-end developer, business analyst, project and product manager, marketer and user-interface designer.
Learning designers and faculty show quick collaboration in times of change
July 21, 2020
Educators and instructional and learning designers at Penn State have been key elements of the pivot to remote instruction as the University works to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alumnus-driven startup aids IST students seeking internship experiences
July 20, 2020
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
July 15, 2020
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
July 1, 2020
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.
Center for Security Research and Education announces seed grant awardees
June 30, 2020
The Center for Security Research and Education (CSRE) has selected 13 interdisciplinary projects through its spring 2020 seed grant program.
Hacker bootcamp: Alumnus creates cybersecurity experience for IST students
June 29, 2020
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.
Initial COVID-19 infection rate may be 80 times greater than originally reported
June 22, 2020
A new study from Penn State tracked excess influenza-like illness data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to estimate that the number of early COVID-19 cases in the U.S. may have been more than 80 times greater and doubled nearly twice as fast as originally believed.
Bringing an international conference online
June 19, 2020
With the shift of the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development to a virtual format due to COVID-19, general chair Carleen Maitland led a team effort to bring the international conference online.
Two College of IST faculty members earn Amazon Research Awards
June 19, 2020
Professor James Wang and Assistant Professor Xinyu Xing — both from the College of Information Sciences and Technology — are among 51 computing experts representing 39 universities worldwide to receive 2019 Amazon Research Awards.
A federal internship in the remote workplace
June 18, 2020
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.
Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program inducts six new fellows
June 17, 2020
The Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program in 2020-21 will include six new fellows from Penn State.
A leader from the start: First-year IST student heads new student organization
June 12, 2020
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.
New cybersecurity master’s degree aims at protecting digital information
June 10, 2020
The College of Information Sciences and Technology will launch a residential master's degree in cybersecurity analytics and operations this fall to help meet the growing demand for professionals who can protect digital information.
Peng Liu, co-authors earn Test-of-Time Award
June 8, 2020
A paper co-authored by Peng Liu, Raymond G.
IST professor receives award, earns reappointment to University College position
June 5, 2020
Penn State Scranton IST professor Alan Peslak has received the International Association for Computer Information Systems’ 2020 Ben Bauman Award for Excellence. Meanwhile, he was reappointed to serve as University College IST discipline coordinator for the 2020-21 academic year.
College of IST launches new degree in enterprise technology integration
June 4, 2020
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.
Keeping water and energy secure
June 4, 2020
Javad Khazaei, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Penn State Harrisburg and affiliate professor of architectural engineering in the College of Engineering, is leading a 15-month seed grant-funded project that will investigate the vulnerability of infrastructure systems and develop d
Camilla Beaderman selected for Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship
June 2, 2020
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.
Bringing information security professionals to the virtual classroom
May 27, 2020
Early this spring semester, Joanne Peca led several organic in-class conversations in her Information Security Management course for graduating seniors about to head into their professional lives.
Well prepared: TLT fellowship equips IST professor for shift to remote learning
May 27, 2020
When Penn State swiftly transitioned to a remote learning environment this spring due to COVID-19, College of Information Sciences and Technology teaching professor Ed Glantz was more than prepared.
'The Investment' student startup TV show taping to take place virtually
May 27, 2020
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.
Understanding trade-offs between connectedness and online privacy during crises
May 26, 2020
A new grant is helping researchers explore how attitudes toward privacy change during times of crises, and whether oversharing has been expedited or even encouraged during the coronavirus pandemic.
Three selected as Administrative Fellows for 2020-21
May 20, 2020
The Administrative Fellows Program offers Penn State faculty and staff the opportunity to work with senior University officers to gain knowledge and experiences pertaining to the challenges of leadership in the academic community.
Alumni Association announces 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassadors
May 18, 2020
The Penn State Alumni Association has selected 11 recent graduates as 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassadors. These young alumni will share a yearlong experience aimed at developing their skills to become the University's future volunteer leaders.
Maitland earns Fulbright Global Scholar Award
May 15, 2020
Carleen Maitland, associate professor of information sciences and technology, is a recipient of a Fulbright Global Scholar award.
Mentorship program strengthens professional network for IST students
May 14, 2020
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.
IST seed grants support tech projects related to COVID-19
May 14, 2020
The College of Information Sciences and Technology recently announced six projects that will receive funding from the college’s seed grant program. Each project will take different approaches to tackle various challenges and needs related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Projects use technology to assist people with rare medical conditions
May 14, 2020
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
May 11, 2020
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.
IST announces 2020 Dean's Circle of Teaching Excellence recipients
May 11, 2020
For their contributions to the teaching mission of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, nine faculty members have been selected as recipients of the 2020 Dean’s Circle of Teaching Excellence award.
Online tutor helps general public turn COVID-19 prevention efforts into action
May 6, 2020
Penn State researchers have developed a comprehensive online tutor to educate the general public about the science behind COVID-19 and appropriate steps anyone can take to help reduce its transmission.
Institute awards 32 computational and data sciences seed grants
May 6, 2020
The Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, in conjunction with several Penn State colleges, awarded more than $725,000 in seed grants to fund 32 new computational and data sciences projects.
Using data to maximize hospital resources
May 1, 2020
As a student in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology, Steve Ney learned critical skills, from coding to data design and architecture.
IST professor receives Fulbright Cyber Security Award
April 30, 2020
Anna Squicciarini, associate professor of information sciences and technology, has received a Fulbright Cyber Security Award to conduct research in London in summer 2021.
Competing for views: IST student develops app for extreme sports athletes
April 28, 2020
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.
Web of psychological cues may tempt people to reveal more online
April 28, 2020
In a study published in the latest Proceedings of Computer-Human Interaction, a team of Penn State researchers identified a dozen subtle — but powerful — reasons that may shed light on why people talk a good game about privacy, but fail to follow up in real life.
Anxious about public speaking? Your smart speaker could help
April 27, 2020
A team of Penn State researchers has developed a public-speaking tutor on the Amazon Alexa platform that could help users reduce their public speaking anxiety.