Security education, training, and awareness
On April 7th, the ISACA Omaha chapter is hosting its annual spring seminar. This will be held at Bellevue University in the MASB Symposium Room. See the above link for full details, this is a great opportunity to keep up to date on current topics as well as network with local cybersecurity professionals.
As a bonus to students, the chapter is offering 1 free entrance for a Bellevue University student to attend. Interested individuals should contact Ron Woerner, rwoerner@bellevue.edu
We’ve all heard there is a cyber skills gap, but what does that really mean? What can be done about it? Professor Karla Carter speaks with Perry Carpenter as part of an impressive line-up of industry experts to dissect this issue. Well worth a listen, or two.
https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/8th-layer-insights/14/notes
Fantastic article focusing on recent Masters graduate Kim van Lavieren
https://news.bellevue.edu/alumnus-from-the-netherlands-puts-cybersecurity-degree-to-use/
Great article focusing on the background and work of Professor Ron Woerner
https://news.bellevue.edu/cybersecurity-professional-helps-bellevues-world-class-program-excel/
Minervaverse is a private Discord-server based social and professional club for women in cybersecurity who are affiliated with Bellevue University (students, alumni, faculty, staff). Our name is from Minerva, the Roman Goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and technology. Our mascot is an owl and our motto is “Alis grave nil” – “Nothing is heavy with wings”. Discord is a free text, voice-, and video-enabled collaboration platform available for desktop (PC or Mac) or mobile.
Minervaverse activities will include guest speakers, networking, mentoring, resource sharing, and fun! It’s intended to be a secure and welcoming place where everyone is free to be authentic and grow together. Women at all levels of cybersecurity experience and knowledge are encouraged to join.
We officially launch on Monday, October 4, 2021, as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Please contact Professor Karla Carter at kcarter@bellevue.edu if you wish to receive an invitation link to the server or have questions. You will need to register for a free Discord account, as well: Discord | Your Place to Talk and Hang Out
Bellevue University is again co-hosting a GenCyber summer camp for high school students. Read all about it here:
https://news.bellevue.edu/applications-open-for-2021-midwest-gencyber-camp/
Thursday, May 20th is College Day at the 2021 RSA Conference.
When students register, they’ll receive an All Access Pass valid for Thursday, May 20 that gives them access to more than 50 sessions and keynotes plus two tailored experiences just for them. We believe this includes entrance into the Professional Development & Personnel Management Presentations and Networking Lounge, which is being hosted by Bellevue University’s Professor Ron Woerner.
Learn more and register at https://www.rsaconference.com/usa/the-experience/special-programs/college-day.
Bellevue University will offer SYS699, Hacking for Defense, during Spring Term 2020. This course is a cross discipline open to all graduate students nearing the end of their program. Students will receive real-world problems from US Govt agencies looking for innovative solutions.
Interested students should contact their advising coach or program director. The Bellevue Leader recently published an article with interviews with several of the faculty involved with the course.
Ron Woerner’s TEDxOmaha talk “Hackers Wanted” is now available on In it, he explains how many of us are hackers and don’t even know it. The world needs more hackers. The video contains his vision for building our next generation of hackers, computer scientists, IT administrators, and cybersecurity professionals.
[Article courtesy of the BUZZ, Cris Hay-Merchant]
Doug Rausch, Director of the Center for Cybersecurity Education at Bellevue University, was named College Tech Educator of the Year at the 2019 Tech Celebration by the non-profit AIM Institute. The announcement was made Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, during AIM’s annual celebration celebrating outstanding tech talent in the community.
Rausch, who also serves as Program Director for Bellevue University’s undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity programs, has more than 30 years of experience providing communication systems and cybersecurity expertise in both the defense and commercial sectors. Rausch retired in 2013 as a Colonel and cyber operations officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he held key leadership positions with Air Force Space Command and U.S. Strategic Command.
“Doug Rausch brings cybersecurity education to life for students,” said Dr. Mary Hawkins, President of Bellevue University. “His ability to connect with students at every level and to seek out challenging and exciting opportunities for applied learning has helped hundreds of students find paths forward to successful careers.”
The AIM Institute College Educator Award recognizes a post-secondary educator who helps develop and build the future generation of tech talent and is an outstanding technology educator or administrator, a dynamic colleague and a caring mentor to students.
Rausch joined Bellevue University in 2014 and was named the Maenner Endowed Chair in 2017. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Science and Technology. Under his leadership, the University’s cybersecurity program has more than doubled in enrollment to 700+ students. Rausch played an instrumental role in the development and design of the C&A Industries Intelligence Systems Lab on the University’s main campus in Bellevue. The lab brings together cybersecurity, data sciences and Systems Network Administration (SNAP) education programs.
https://www.bellevue.edu/about/media-relations/stories/2019-11-doug-rausch-college-tech-educator