AFCEA International Chapter News
GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER CHAPTER - Apr 27, 2023

April Luncheon Speaker Addresses Cybersecurity Education

In April, Douglas Rausch, director, Cybersecurity Education, and program director for Undergraduate and Graduate Cybersecurity Programs, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska, spent time with the chapter discussing workforce pathways. Rausch talked about initial STEM exposure for middle school students coming in the form of GenCyber Camp supported by the National Science Foundation and activities like Dinner with a Scientist and Internet of Things-type courses through the university. The objective is to open the students' eyes to STEM. After they know what STEM is, they must decide what to do with it. Rausch continued by discussing high school engagements geared to tweak students' interests like CyberPatriot competitions and VEX Robotics events.

Rausch commented on instruction assistance methods like RING, where high schools engage in cybersecurity curriculum, labs and developing faculty by certifying them in computer education. Rausch next talked about college, where students will focus on acquiring tasks, knowledge and skills. He touched on the NICE Framework, which establishes a common lexicon to describe cybersecurity work and workers regardless of where the job is performed. Additionally, NIST has formed standards, guidelines and best practices to manage cybersecurity risk, helping guide the formal levels of teaching. Rausch discussed how the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program sets out to create and manage a collaborative cybersecurity educational program with applicable college institutions. The CAE-CD 2012-2027 designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees. Adhering to the precepts in the cybersecurity program allows academic institutions to produce graduates better suited to industry needs.

Rausch talked about further cybersecurity opportunities for expansion like the National Cyber League, Hack-a-Sat or Cyber Tatanka-all avenues for inspiring interest. Additionally, Rausch mentioned workforce insertion or Ignite Nebraska, where community partners, employers and educational institutions collaborate to provide paid apprenticeship opportunities. Rausch concluded by likening the Bellevue cybersecurity program to creating the Jason Bourne of cybersecurity.

Event Photographs:

Sean Murphy, chapter president stand-in (l), shakes hands with Douglas Rausch (right), director, Cybersecurity Education, and program director for Undergraduate and Graduate Cybersecurity Programs, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska. Rausch was the speaker for the April luncheon and received a Greater Omaha Chapter coin for addressing the chapter.
Sean Murphy, chapter president stand-in (l), shakes hands with Douglas Rausch (right), director, Cybersecurity Education, and program director for Undergraduate and Graduate Cybersecurity Programs, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska. Rausch was the speaker for the April luncheon and received a Greater Omaha Chapter coin for addressing the chapter.
Diane Campbell, chapter vice president of academics (l), stands next to the eight award recipients from the Omaha Metropolitan Science Fair featured at the April luncheon. Students pictured (l-r) are: Edgar Del Cid Luten, Omaha South High School, Omaha, Nebraska, 11th grade, Hardware Interfacing Using LabVIEW; Aishwarya Pandharpurkar, Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, Elkhorn, Nebraska, 7th grade, A Boost of We-Fi from Parabolas; Athreya Reddy, Elkhorn Ridge Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Reemergence of Mpox: Bioinformatics Approach; Rex Mussman, Carl A. Swanson Elementary, Omaha, Nebraska, 6th grade, Look Out Below!; Laney Crinklaw, King Science  and  Technology Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Do Higher Frequencies Produce More Thermal Energy Than Lower Frequencies?; Ella Carson, Buffett Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Bridges Holding the World; Gabe Keith, Buffett Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Robo Lifting; Mackenzie Simpson, Buffett Middle School, 8th grade, Does Multitasking Suit You? Also pictured is Samuel Fischer (r), teacher, Marrs Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, who assisted in the evaluation/selection of student projects. Projects were accessed at the Henry Doorly Zoo in March. The chapter awarded a total of $1,600.
Diane Campbell, chapter vice president of academics (l), stands next to the eight award recipients from the Omaha Metropolitan Science Fair featured at the April luncheon. Students pictured (l-r) are: Edgar Del Cid Luten, Omaha South High School, Omaha, Nebraska, 11th grade, Hardware Interfacing Using LabVIEW; Aishwarya Pandharpurkar, Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, Elkhorn, Nebraska, 7th grade, A Boost of We-Fi from Parabolas; Athreya Reddy, Elkhorn Ridge Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Reemergence of Mpox: Bioinformatics Approach; Rex Mussman, Carl A. Swanson Elementary, Omaha, Nebraska, 6th grade, Look Out Below!; Laney Crinklaw, King Science and Technology Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Do Higher Frequencies Produce More Thermal Energy Than Lower Frequencies?; Ella Carson, Buffett Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Bridges Holding the World; Gabe Keith, Buffett Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, 8th grade, Robo Lifting; Mackenzie Simpson, Buffett Middle School, 8th grade, Does Multitasking Suit You? Also pictured is Samuel Fischer (r), teacher, Marrs Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, who assisted in the evaluation/selection of student projects. Projects were accessed at the Henry Doorly Zoo in March. The chapter awarded a total of $1,600.

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