Affiliated faculty
CEC Affiliated Faculty are faculty who have an explicit interest in developing courses, degree programs, and other-directed learning experiences within Cybersecurity and broadly related disciplines. Many of these same faculty have research programs, however, their educational activities and connection(s) to the goals of the CEC are highlighted here.
Martin Bencic
Program Director of Cybersecurity, Glendale Community College
Dr. Bencic is a professor of Cybersecurity and also is part of the Gaucho Cyber Cave. In response to the demands for skilled cybersecurity training and to assist in the transition of students from GCC to ASU, GCC has invested in a state-of-the-art ‘Cyber Cave’; a facility like no other in the state at the community college level.
Victor Benjamin
Assistant Professor, Department of Information Systems, W.P. Carey School of Business
Victor Benjamin’s research is in the area of natural language processing, web mining, cybersecurity, security informatics, and social media analytics.
Barbara Coakley
Director, MET Professional Academy, Peoria Unified School District
Director Coakley oversees several programs, or ‘strands’ at the Medicine, Engineering, and Technology (MET) Professional Academy. Students in the technology strand learn to defend and protect network systems through ethical hacking techniques while managing and troubleshooting various operating systems. They work alongside IT professionals to complete business projects that will help to develop student confidence with IT networking solutions and cybersecurity fundamentals.
Justin Davis
Instructor, MET Professional Academy, Peoria Unified School District
Mr. Davis specializes in IT Networking/Cybersecurity at the MET. He teaches students to defend and protect network systems through ethical hacking techniques while managing and troubleshooting various operating systems. His students work alongside IT professionals to complete business projects that will help to develop student confidence with IT networking solutions and cybersecurity fundamentals.
Dr. Lara Ferry
Associate Dean of Research and Strategic Initiatives, New College
Dr Ferry works with faculty and administration to move forward strategic research, programmatic, or community-facing initiatives and advance research and external funding within New College and ASU. Lara works closely with Mr. Kim Jones to execute the mission of the CEC and serves as an ex-officio member of the CISO advisory board.
Jim Helm
Professor of Practice, Fulton Schools of Engineering
Dr. Helm teaches courses in network architecture, cyber forensics, and cyber security; and developed courses in network architecture, cyber security (intro and advanced), network forensics, security policy, and security analysis. Courses focus on teaching through “hands-on” experiences related to cyber security. Dr. Helm is a program evaluator (PEV) for ABET CSAB organization and makes accreditation visits to colleges and universities to evaluate computer related programs in Information Systems, Information Technology, and Cyber Security.
Kim Jones
Director, Cybersecurity Education Consortium, New College
Mr Jones is a 29-year intelligence, security, and risk management professional with progressive experience in all facets of information security. He holds the CISM and CISSP certifications. He is the Chair of the CISO Advisory Board for the CEC. He also develops and teaches courses within the Applied Computing Degree at ASU’s West Campus specific to the Cybersecurity Concentration.
Sian Mooney
Associate Dean, College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Dr. Mooney fosters interdisciplinary educational initiatives and strives to increase student preparedness for successful careers. She is working collaboratively with New College and the College of Public Service and Community Solutions to increase BS and MS degree offerings in cybersecurity and emergency preparedness.
Tom Polliard
Program Director for Network Technology Institute, Estrella Community College
Mr. Polliard has been teaching IT, networking, and cybersecurity courses for over 12 years. During that time, he has seen a myriad of changes in technologies, tools, and methodologies used in IT. Consequently, this has led to multiple changes and modifications in the curriculum which he has executed while in close consultation with the industry. These changes always stress industry requirements as well as place a major emphasis on IT, networking, and cybersecurity hands-on skills.
ASU affiliates
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