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.
If you have a story idea or questions about IST news, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Alumnus uses IST skills to drive content analytics at Audible
When Steve Cassey began his journey at Penn State’s then-new School of Information Sciences and Technology nearly 20 years ago, he was told that there would be an abundance of relevant jobs available in the tech field within 15 years. Now, as the director of content analytics at Audible Inc., he realized those predictions were true.
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. Now, he’s pursuing a degree in security and risk analysis through Penn State World Campus to better understand how the internet is changing the dynamic of police and investigative work in the country.
Using machine learning to reduce traffic congestion
Researchers in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology are advancing work that utilizes machine learning methods to improve traffic signal control at urban intersections around the world.
The impacts of automation and AI on the next WPSU 'Digging Deeper'
Penn State President Eric Barron and a pair of University experts will discuss the impacts of automation and artificial intelligence during the next episode of WPSU Penn State’s “Digging Deeper” on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Penn State to host Study Abroad Week from Jan. 20 to 24
Penn State will host Study Abroad Week 2020 during the week of Jan. 20-24 on the University Park campus. Students who attend can learn more about the process of applying, what funding is available, and career enrichment opportunities; and meet other students who have gone abroad.
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.
On Dec. 10, students presented seven-minute lightning pitches for their ideas to build technology solutions for cosmetics consumers.
Six top-10 rankings for Penn State in U.S. News’ 2020 Best Online Programs
Penn State World Campus is recognized in six top-10 rankings of U.S. News and World Report’s 2020 Best Online Programs. U.S. News also ranked Penn State World Campus in six categories of its Best Online Programs for Veterans lists.
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. Vince Derr, his cousin Jaclyn Carradorini, and Jaclyn’s little brother Chris have all graduated from the College of Information Sciences and Technology, and their younger cousin, Nicholas Carradorini, is currently a senior in the college.
Scholars invited to submit papers on privacy, technology and vulnerability
Penn State’s Dickinson Law, the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS), and Monash University have joined together to sponsor the “Privacy, Technology and Vulnerability Workshop,” which will be held at Monash University Prato Centre in Prato, Italy on June 22-23.
From picking locks to leading information security
“A lock isn’t designed to keep people out; it’s designed to slow people down.” That was the key point that Nick Leghorn, Penn State class of 2010, took away from a hacking conference that he attended as a student. So he brought the cybersecurity concept to the University by launching Penn State 2600 -- a student organization for people who wanted to have fun with technology and enjoy being intellectually challenged. The art of lock picking was the focus of one of the club’s first meetings.
Multi-college, online Digital Multimedia Design program sees first graduates
Penn State’s new Digital Multimedia Design program is seeing its first graduates this week. The interdisciplinary program is offered through Penn State World Campus by the College of Arts and Architecture, College of Communications, and College of Information Sciences and Technology.
These Penn State grads feel confident about their future goals
Adalice Burgos and Aaron Spak balanced their jobs and families while working toward their degrees. They’ll share their stories of their educational journeys at an event for Penn State World Campus students this Friday.
Center for Security Research and Education announces spring 2020 grant program
The Penn State Center for Security Research and Education has announced its spring 2020 grant program to support security-related scholarship and educational programs at Penn State. University faculty and researchers are eligible to apply by Feb. 14, 2020.
First-generation student celebrates success as IST student marshal
Since Joselyne Mera Vargas moved to the United States from Ecuador when she was 9 years old, she has developed valuable leadership and communication skills, discovered a passion for data science, and completed a summer internship at Harvard University. To celebrate all that Vargas has achieved during her time at Penn State, she has been selected as the College of Information Science and Technology’s student marshal for the fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 21.