Cybersecurity Guide

Dr. Saltuk Karahan, a clinical associate professor and deputy director at Old Dominion University’s (ODU) School of Cybersecurity, whose interdisciplinary background spans systems engineering, computer science, international security studies, cyber policy, cyber war, and information/disinformation. In this episode, Karahan explains that cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary field requiring not onl...

Dr. Arthur Carter is a professor of information systems at Radford University and chair of the Department of Accounting, Finance, and Information Systems. With a background spanning mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering work with the Navy, business information technology, and cybersecurity education, Dr. Carter brings a practical, multidisciplinary perspective to preparing students for both...

Chris Carroll is a teaching professor and program director at Drexel University , where he prepares students for careers in cybersecurity and IT. Drawing on nearly 30 years of industry experience, he brings practical insight into networking, cloud computing, ethical hacking, and secure systems design. Professor Chris Carroll explains how Drexel’s cybersecurity program combines technical IT trainin...

Marrci Conner is a seasoned cybersecurity educator and IT professional who brings more than two decades of industry experience and 17 years of college-level teaching to her work at Henry Ford College. With expertise spanning cybersecurity, networking, programming, and digital forensics, she offers students a rare mix of technical knowledge, business insight, and real-world perspective that helps p...

Dr. Diane Murphy of Marymount University explains why the field now offers multiple entry points for students, career changers, and professionals who want to protect systems, data, and people in an increasingly digital world. Drawing on decades of experience across industry, government, entrepreneurship, and higher education, Dr. Murphy shares why modern cybersecurity education must go beyond theo...

Robert Greenberg , Director of the Cyber Forensics Intelligence Center and Assistant Professor of Practice at Sam Houston State University. With decades of industry experience and a strong background in computer science, he brings practical insight into cybersecurity education, digital forensics, and student career preparation. Robert Greenberg discussed the university’s cybersecurity, digital for...

Dr. Gregory Laidlaw emphasizes students need a broad IT foundation (networking, systems, databases) because most entry jobs aren’t purely cybersecurity. He explains the program aligns with national frameworks (including CAE) and industry feedback while focusing on principles over specific tools. He keeps courses like ethical hacking and forensics intentionally challenging, grading documentation, p...

Dr. Ayad Barsoum is the interim chair of computer science and graduate programs director for cybersecurity at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.  In this episode, Barsoum discusses how the school’s NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence designation translates into real value for students, rigorous standards, shared resources, grants, and internship opportunities, while preparing graduates fo...

Douglas Rausch is and associate professor and program director of cybersecurity at Bellevue University. Rausch shared his nontraditional path from software and military communications into Air Force cyber operations, and how that experience shapes Bellevue’s workforce-focused cybersecurity program. He emphasizes mastering the systems you defend, prioritizing risk management and business context, a...

Dr. Lance Fiondella is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the director of the UMass Dartmouth Cybersecurity Center. Fiondella says cybersecurity is about being reliable and tough: plan, handle problems, bounce back, and adjust. It needs strong tech skills, teamwork across subjects like engineering and policy, and good talking skills....

Dr. Todd R. Andel is the Dean of the School of Computing at the University of South Alabama, a former U.S. Air Force officer with 23 years of service. In this episode he explains how industry and government partnerships help keep coursework aligned with real-world threats, highlights hands-on learning through labs like digital forensics and hardware security, and shares internship pathways that co...

Dr. Fan Wu is the head of Computer Science at Tuskegee University and director of the National Center of Information Assurance Education, with a WPI PhD and over 20 years of leadership advancing hands-on cybersecurity education and research. Dr. Wu discusses how Tuskegee University prepares cybersecurity students through a full BS–MS–PhD pathway, strong hands-on learning (labs, research, internshi...

Rick Lopez, an Associate Professor at Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) and former IT consultant. Lopez explains he moved from industry to academia to “transfer skills,” using his Fortune 500 consulting background to teach students not just technical skills but also business communication and big-picture thinking. Northeast Lakeview’s NSA Center of Academic Excellence designation drives a hands-on,...

Justin Williams, is an instructor and chairperson of the Information Technology Department at Mount Aloysius College. Williams shares his personal journey into cybersecurity, starting as a student passionate about understanding cyber threats and now guiding the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. He discusses the hands-on learning opportunities available in Mount Aloysius’ NSA and DHS-...

Shane Allen , an assistant professor of Information Systems and Technologies at Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City. Shane discussed his academic and professional journey, including his early experiences with cybersecurity at Electronic Data Systems. He described the student-centric approach at OSU-OKC, which offers an Associate of Applied Science in IT with a cybersecurity track and a Bachel...

Albena Asenova-Belal is a cybersecurity instructor at Gwinnett Technical College with a diverse background in engineering, data analysis, and education. This episode focuses on how the college’s award-winning cybersecurity program is empowering the next generation of cyber defenders. The program is NSA and DHS-accredited, ensuring the curriculum aligns with the skills needed to succeed in the fiel...

Don Easton is the faculty lead for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Cybersecurity program at Lane Community College. He has extensive experience in information security, cloud computing, digital forensics, and other technical areas. Find complete episode details on Cybersecurity Guide .

Trisha Clay is the Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Hudson County Community College. She discusses her journey into the technology industry and the unique cybersecurity challenges faced by higher education institutions. She emphasizes the importance of balancing accessibility and security, as well as the need for diverse perspectives on cybersecurity teams. Additionally, s...

Jay Soelberg, is a cybersecurity instructor at the College of Western Idaho (CWI) with over 26 years of real-world IT experience across industries like finance, retail, higher education, and legal services. Solberg discusses CWI's cybersecurity program, which provides hands-on learning and certification-ready training to prepare the next generation of cyber defenders. Find more about this epis...

Eric Magidson is a professor of Computer Information Systems at Central Oregon Community College who specializes in cybersecurity, networking, and teaching methodologies. Magidson discusses the benefits of stackable credentials and degrees in cybersecurity, which allow students to quickly earn industry certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ while building a flexible, career-focuse...

Bryan Deehring is an associate professor at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), a nationally recognized institution certified by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in cyber defense. FInd a full transcript of this interview on Cybersecurity Guide.

Dr. Kemal Akkaya, a chaired professor at Florida International University (FIU), discusses his background and research in the field of cybersecurity, starting from his early interest in cryptography and progressing to work on projects like DNS security. Find the full transcript .

Dr. Matthew Heath Van Horn, an assistant professor of cyber intelligence and security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, discusses his career journey and approach to teaching cybersecurity. Get a full transcript of the episode.

Kyle Kuhlers, a computer programming and cybersecurity instructor at Hawkeye Community College and Waterloo Career Center, discusses his journey into cybersecurity education and the key goals and approaches of his web programming and cybersecurity programs. Find the full transcript on Cybersecurity Guide .

Ben Crenshaw is the Head of Cyber and AI Education at Work ED, where he bridges the gap between academic learning and the practical demands of the cybersecurity industry. With a background as a Senior Vulnerability Analyst at Oracle and a former Cybersecurity Teacher in the Canyons School District, Ben brings both industry expertise and a passion for education to his role. At Work ED, he focuses o...