Marshall Magazine Summer 2022

For students, the ICS provides a fully integrated curricu lum, with elective courses frommultiple departments that will enrich their chosen field of study as well as hands-on experience that will make them workforce ready. “Part of the ICS’s mission is to address the massive workforce shortage and skills gap in the cyber domain,” Sammons said. “Our academic programs are very practi tioner focused, with as much hands-on, skills-based experi ence as possible.” The institute is made up of five components: academics, research, external relations, training programs and public outreach. While academics and research are the seminal work of the institute, the other three areas will become increasingly important as the ICS continues to grow and recruit personnel. Plans include educational programs for area schools, training for law enforcement and cybersafety seminars for local businesses. “It’s not just large corporations that are being targeted and breached,” Sammons said. “Local mom-and-pops are also breached at an alarming rate.” Sammons said as cyberthreats become of greater and greater concern, universities play a vital role. He credited

Dr. Mike Little, former chair of the past Department of Integrated Science and Technology; Dr. Charles Somerville, dean of the College of Science; and Dr. Terry Fenger, founder and former director of the university’s graduate forensic science program for paving the way for Marshall’s leadership in the cyber arena. Sammons said their vision and support were invaluable to the university’s success to date. “Universities have a key role to play in cybersecurity, not only by providing graduates to address the workforce shortage but also by conducting research, developing new technologies and working toward a better understand ing of the science behind cybercrimes,” Sammons said. “Cybersecurity is truly an ‘all hands on deck’ situation, and there are roles and responsibilities at all levels. This includes the individual user, government at all levels, law enforcement, private companies and the military and in telligence communities. The problem is simply too big for any single entity to solve alone.”

Katherine Pyles is a freelance writer and editor living in Huntington, West Virginia.

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