fall 2012 iconnect

Tradition meetsinnovation IST students lead technological advances for Homecoming and THON. p. 12

Fall 2012

College of Information Sciences and Technology

iConnect, the magazine of the College of Information Sciences and Technology. David Hall, Dean

Editors: Julie Coughlin, Jaime LynchArt Director/Designer: Kelly BryanWriter: Stephanie KoonsAlumni Contributors: Paul HornPhotography: Nicole Cingolani, Emilee Spokus

iConnect [email protected]

Fall 2012

Stay connected with IST:

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Features

8 New faculty strengthen the core of technologi cal expertise in IST IST welcomes new professors who are contributing their expertise to the technical side of the IST spectrum.

12 IST students lead technological advances for Homecoming and THON Nicki Yankoski and Chris Kessler are giving two Penn State traditions a 21st century upgrade through knowledge and skills they’ve learned at IST.

14 IST’s Office of Career Solutions: Helping students find success in the job market With a focus on job and internship placement, Career Solutions provides students with numerous networking opportunities, including Pro Expo, IST’s fall career fair.

Departments

3 From the Dean 4 Research News 6 Student News Study abroad in Spain: Challenging classes, ample fun for Theo Schnieders

18 IST Around the State 20 Donor Spotlight Ronald Segal, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Spectrum Systems, Inc.

22 Where Are They Now? Brendan DeBow (IST ‘03), supporting wireless infrastructure for the Department of Defense

24 IST Alumni Society News

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V,814-863-1150/TTY.

Produced by the Office of Communications and Outreach. U.Ed. IST 13-04

Welcome to this issue of iConnect. This year we welcomed many new staff and faculty to the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), including: Cindi Bierly, Brandy Bower, and Priscilla Cetnar in the Dean’s Office; Peggy Fisher and Kent Matsueda in Instructional Design; Nicky Rigg in Finance; Jenn Bury in Development; Julian Morales in Recruiting; Mindy Fisher in Online Education; and Brittany Warren in Advising. New faculty faces include assistant professors David Reitter, Dinghao Wu, and Zhenhui (Jessie) Li; lecturers Marc Friedenberg, Greg O’Toole, and Marcella Borge; senior lecturer Steve Shafer; and research associate Patrick Shih. This fall began with considerable excitement, events, and awards. On October 16, IST hosted three outstanding professionals who

each earned the Penn State Alumni Fellow Award, including Paul Bell (president, retired from Dell, Inc.), John Meyer (co-chairman and CEO of Arise Virtual Solutions, Inc. and chair of the IST Advisory Board), and Dana Born (Brigadier General, USAF Air Force Academy).

Brian Cameron, executive director of the Center for Enterprise Architecture, won the 2011 Career Achievement Award from the Network Professional Association for his efforts in founding the Federation of Enterprise Architecture Professional Organizations. In other faculty achievements, John Carroll, Edward M. Frymoyer Professor of IST, was bestowed an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Madrid, and Jake Graham, professor of practice in security and risk analysis, was awarded

the George McMurtry Excellence in Teaching award. In addition, we created a new university-recognized research center: the Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL), which is co-hosted with the College of Education and World Campus and led by Fred Fonseca, associate professor of IST. In this issue you’ll find articles on Pro Expo, THON, our new faculty members, and updates on faculty research. I hope you enjoy reading about the latest IST initiatives.

Regards,

David Hall, DeanCollege of Information Sciences and Technology

Dean Hall is blogging! Follow him at http://hall-pass.tumblr.com

From the Dean

Dean Dave Hall and the Nittany Lion celebrating at the inaugural IST Corporate Associates Dean’s Dinner.

RESEARCH NEWS

Eileen Trauth, professor of information sciences and technology (IST) at Penn State, has written many journal articles and has given numerous presentations throughout her career on the underrepresentation of women

in technological fields such as information technology (IT). However, scientific research doesn’t lend itself particularly well to conveying nuances and the emotional aspect of issues, and many people who could benefit from her research don’t have easy access to it. Trauth decided to bring her message to the public through a play she wrote called “iDream,” that communicates, in dramatic fashion, research results about barriers to women in the IT field. “iDream” has been presented in Union, NJ, Washington, D.C., and State College, PA.

“iDream” play encourages young women to consider IT careers

Tennessee State University grant funds Liu’s research to combat hackers

Hackers, viruses, and other security threats are among the greatest hazards faced by companies today. While network security systems avert many of those dangers, they are not equipped to combat the full array of cyber risks that currently exist. Peng Liu, a professor of IST, in conjunction with Tennessee State University (TSU), is developing an advanced intrusion detection system that would spot even the stealthiest attackers. As part of a three-year grant, Liu has received more than $100,000 from TSU to support the project, “Heterogeneous VM Replication: A new approach to intrusion detection, active response, and recovery in data centers.”

Congratulations to Jens Grossklags, assistant professor, IST’s first recipient of the Haile Family Early Career Professorship award.

Dr. Jens Grossklags and Don Haile, IST Advisory Board member, at the announcement ceremony.

NSF award supports Carroll’s creation of mobile time-banking app

There is a growing international movement to facilitate economic exchange and build social capital by using time as an alternative form of currency. Through time banking, volunteers in a community provide and receive services valued by the amount of time they require to perform. Jack Carroll, Edward M. Frymoyer Professor of IST, is working on a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that is intended to strengthen communities through a mobile time-banking system.

4 College of Information Sciences and Technology

RESEARCH NEWS

New Center Announced

The Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL) co-directed by Fred Fonseca, associate professor of IST, will help faculty researchers invent, implement, and investigate new technology uses to improve online teaching and learning. Today's connected "net generation" wants to use smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other high-tech devices for communication as well as learning. This is leading to a 10 percent growth in online enrollments nationally, according to the Sloan Consortium. The College of IST, the College of Education, and the World Campus are partners in the center.

To read more about these stories and stay up to date on all the latest research in IST, visit: http://ist.psu.edu/research-news.

Kvasny, Trauth examine the factors that steer black males toward IT careersBlack males are among the heaviest users of mobile technology, according to Lynette Kvasny, associate professor of IST, but relatively few of them are inspired to become leaders in the field. She and her colleague, Eileen Trauth, professor of IST, with the aid of a $245,000 grant from the NSF, are seeking answers as to what social and environmental factors steer black males toward careers in information technology. This research builds upon an earlier NSF-funded project in which the pair explored the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic class in IT career choice.

IST researcher uses social media to predict aurora borealis “light show”

The aurora borealis, aka Northern Lights, is a source of mystery and wonder for professional and amateur astronomers alike. Predicting the movement of the spectacular light show, however, can be a test in patience and perseverance. Yan Cao, an IST doctoral student, in partnership with the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, is developing a website

that harnesses the power of public participation and social media to provide information on the natural phenomenon.

5Fall 2012

STUDENT NEWS

Theo Schnieders, a senior at Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), discovered both the challenges and joys of Spanish culture while studying at the University of Barcelona during the spring 2012 semester. While his academic workload was rather unforgiving, he said, Spain has an easygoing lifestyle that always leaves room for fun and relaxation.

Schnieders, who is majoring in both IST and Security and Risk Analysis (SRA), participated in IES Abroad, a Chicago-based study abroad organization, through the University Office of Global Programs at Penn State. At the University of Barcelona, he took general education classes, including Mediterranean oceanography, cultural studies, art history, and intermediate Spanish.

STUDY ABROAD IN SPAIN: Challenging classes, ample fun for Theo Schnieders

Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudi and the Arco De Triunfo

Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia and Theo Schnieders pictured at Ciutadella Park, Barcelona. Far page: Christopher Columbus Monument (http://pommietravels.com)


“I thought [the program] would make me more well-rounded, just to get the whole cultural-abroad experience,” he said.

Schnieders, a native of Pittsburgh, said that his classes at the University of Barcelona required “huge readings” and were very time-consuming. On the other hand, he added, the pace of life is much slower in Spain than in the U.S. While a lot of Spanish people own gadgets such as iPhones and Blackberrys, he observed that they are not constantly talking on the phone or texting like many Americans. Practically everyone in Spain has a glass of wine or beer at lunch, he said, and many businesses close for a while in the afternoon so employees can take a siesta [nap].

While Schnieders says he has a “decent knowledge of Spanish,” the people in Barcelona speak in a particular dialect called Catalan. Living in a dormitory with a lot of Spanish students helped him learn the nuances of Catalan, he said. He roomed with a student from Indiana University and a Penn State student whom he didn’t know previously but shares a lot of mutual friends with Schnieders.

Other perks of living in Barcelona, Schnieders said, included “awesome” weather (around 60 degrees every day) and a vibrant nightlife scene. He was also impressed by the Spaniards’ intense love of soccer.

“The whole town stops when the team plays,” he said.

While studying in Barcelona, Schnieders made excursions to other parts of Europe. He visited Amsterdam shortly after arriving in Spain, and also visited Prague, Dublin, Munich, and Greece during spring break.

After returning to the U.S., Schnieders spent the remainder of the summer focusing more on business than pleasure. He interned at Deloitte as a technology consultant, working out of the company’s Pittsburgh office.

Theo will graduate this May and begin working full-time for Deloitte in July.

7Fall 2012

New faculty strengthen the core of technological expertise at IST

One of the hallmarks of the College of IST is its distinguished faculty representing diverse areas such as computer science, business, psychology, and women’s studies. In the 2012-2013 academic year, IST welcomed several new professors who are contributing their expertise to the more technical side of the IST spectrum in disciplines such as mediated learning, computer programming, computational cognition, and web design and development.

Pictured (L to R):

Greg O’TooleDavid ReitterZhenhui (Jessie) LiMarcela BorgeDavid Hall, DeanSteve Shaffer


Marcela Borge, a senior research associate and instructor, who re-ceived a Ph.D. in education in math, science, and technology from the University of California-Berkeley, focuses on the intersection be-tween technology and learning. Borge, who taught “Introduction to Information Science Technology”

and “Introduction to Human-Centered Design” as her first classes at IST, says her approach to creating technology focuses on studying the users—their activities, contexts, strengths, and weaknesses—and developing tools to enhance how they think and interact with others.

While a graduate student at U.C. Berkeley, Borge worked with a group called ThinkerTools to develop and test inquiry software to help students with limited educational opportunities and their teachers engage in sophisticated sci-entific practices.

“I saw the power and potential of technology as a means to support learning,” she said.

Borge works with the new Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL), which supports faculty research on inventing, implementing, and investigating new ways to use technology to improve online and blended education. Penn State’s College of IST, College of Education, and World Campus are partners in the center.

The College of IST appeals to many students who want to pursue careers in technology fields but are not interested in a traditional computer science curriculum. However, Jessie Li, a first-year assistant professor at the College of IST, aims to equip her students with the technical skills that she thinks are necessary to succeed in their chosen industry.

“I just don’t want students to be afraid of programming in the future,” she said.

Li, who taught “Organizational Data” in her first semester at IST, received a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on data mining, a process that attempts to discover patterns in large data sets. Her Ph.D. thesis examined animals’ social interactions using technology.

As a woman working in computer science, Li said, she would like for other females to know that the field offers a lot of opportunities for them.

“Once you open the door, it’s easy,” she said.

Steve Shaffer, a senior lecturer and senior research associate, is another new IST faculty member who brings a strong computer science background to the table. Shaffer, who began developing software professionally in 1983, completed his master’s degree in computer science at Villanova University in 1990 and founded Decision Associates Inc., a consulting firm specializing in clinical data management and software quality assurance. In 1995, he sold the company and entered a doctoral program at Penn State. Two years later, he accepted a faculty position with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at Penn State, where he taught software engineering, artificial intelligence, and programming. He left CSE in 2012 to accept his current position with the College of IST.

During the fall 2012 semester, Shaffer taught “Discrete Math,” which involves sets, logic, and

9Fall 2012

the fundamental mathematics of computing. His research and teaching focus on making computers more cognitive and helping people understand computers better. He is also involved with COIL and the Center for Network-Centric Cognition and Information Fusion (NC2IF), which conducts research and demonstrates how information technology can span the gap from energy detection (via sensors and human reports) to knowledge creation.

Shaffer says he was drawn to the College of IST because of the college’s focus on large-scale problems. “We apply (computer science) issues to problems on a human scale,” he said.

An emerging field that addresses such issues is cognitive modeling, an area of computer science that deals with simulating human problem solving and mental task processes in a computerized model. Cognitive modeling is used in numerous artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as expert systems, natural language programming, and neural networks, and in robotics and virtual reality applications.

David Reitter, another first-year professor at the College of IST, develops models of human cognition that describe how humans communicate and how they make decisions.

“Can we come up with models that explain human behavior and thinking?” said Reitter,

who received a Ph.D. in informatics/cognitive science in 2008 and was a post-doc at Carnegie Mellon University from 2008 to 2011.

Reitter, who taught “Programming Languages” in his inaugural semester at IST, says he is working on a new cognitive science course that

will start in the fall 2013 semester. Cognitive science relates to many areas in IST, he said, including security and risk, human-computer interaction (HCI), and big data.

Web design and development is a fast-growing industry, and Greg O’ Toole is bringing his experience and expertise to the College of IST as both a faculty member and a senior web interface engineer. He is working on enhancing IST’s mobile web presence by creating mature mobile apps and building micro-sites within the main IST website. In the spring 2013 semester, he will start teaching “Introduction to the Fundamentals of Web Design and Development,” which will be part of a new web and mobile development minor within the College of IST.

“Students will come out of the class with a website that has all the characteristics of a sustainable web ecosystem,” said O’Toole, who has a Ph.D. in media and communication from European Graduate School in Saas-fee, Switzerland.

In addition to his dual role at the College of IST, O’Toole will be occupied with a number of activities in the coming months. He has a book coming out from Springer’s Computer Science Series in 2013 called “The Anatomy of Sustainable Web Ecosystem Design: Toward a Unified Theory of Front End Web-Human Interface Engineering.” In addition, he will be a visiting lecturer at Ochanomizu University’s Center for Research and Education in February 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.


The second annual Pie Your Professor benefiting THON was a great success!!

The event is one of many successful fundraisers that IST THON has been holding to reach their goal of

$45,000 to help find a cure for pediatric cancer.

To make a donation, visit THON.org and specify IST as the organization.

Participants included: Julie Coughlin, Marc Friedenberg, Ed Glantz, Melissa Hicks, John Hill, Jim Jansen, Madhavi Kari, Lisa Lenze, Rosalie Ocker, Gerry Santoro, Wade Shumaker, and Eileen Trauth

11Fall 2012

Two of the most time-honored traditions at Penn State are Homecoming and the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON. Nicki Yankoski and Chris Kessler, College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students, have taken on leadership roles in Homecoming and THON, respectively, giving those traditions a 21st century tweak through the Internet and new technologies.

Yankoski, a senior majoring in IST with a minor in Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) was the technology director of “Penn State Homecoming 2012: The Glory Echoes On,” held Sept. 29 to Oct. 6. Kessler, a senior IST/SRA major, is the overall technology chairperson for THON 2013, which will take place Feb. 15-17 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The 46-hour dance marathon is the culmination of a year-long effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer.

Yankoski, was one of 17 Homecoming directors. As technology director, she was responsible for website and database management, while supporting her co-directors’ technology needs. The Penn State Homecoming Online Organizational Database (HOOD) is used to organize and coordinate all Homecoming data between the

Homecoming Executive Committee and all organizations involved in Homecoming.

“HOOD needed to be rethought and reorganized to become more aligned with our needs,” she said.

Homecoming is a year-long competition that involves the State College community, student organizations, and Greek life. In past years, people who wanted to participate in Homecoming activities had to fill out paperwork. Now, all of the registration is completed and stored in HOOD. For the second time this year, students and alumni were invited to enter their tailgates into the annual Homecoming Alumni and Student Tailgate Competition before the Northwestern game on Oct. 6. The categories included Best Food, Most Pride and Spirit, and Best Overall Tailgate. Students were able to register for the Tailgate Competition on HOOD, and other participating organizations who

Nicki Yankoski, Homecoming 2012 Technology Director

IST students lead technological advances for

Homecoming and THON


registered on the database competed for “spirit points.”

“We planned for the unexpected from past experiences,” Yankoski said. “I am extremely proud of the executive committee and all they’ve accomplished.”

Yankoski, who hails from Pittsburgh, said that her classes at IST gave her experience in teamwork and communications management, which she was able to transfer to her role as homecoming technology director.

Yankoski graduates in December and will serve as IST’s student marshall for the fall 2012 commencement ceremony. She plans to remain in State College for the spring semester to continue her service to the college and volunteer in THON. In June, she will begin a full-time position at PNC Financial Services headquartered in Pittsburgh.

As THON 2013’s Overall Technology Chairperson, Kessler leads 20 captains who are responsible for maintaining and improving all technical components of THON. This includes, but is not limited to, THON.org, the THON Information Network (THINK), the THON App, and the PASS System for THON weekend.

The PASS System allows friends and families to visit their dancers on the floor. It also allows for entertainment acts, fitness instructors, and members of the press to meet and interact with the dancers. For THON 2013, Kessler said, the Technology

and Rules & Regulations Committees have been rewriting the system and introducing new features. Other changes to the PASS system include a three-hour time limit on organization passes, 15-person lists per pass, and a traditional physical queue system. In addition, the texting system will no longer be utilized, making way for an innovative integration with the THON App and MobilePASS that allows organizations to easily view pass usage.

THINK is the key to how THON manages all data and requests. THON chairs access THINK for various tasks, including submitting alternative fundraisers and corporate

contacts, registering canning trips, and managing financial and membership information.

The THON.org website has also undergone changes in both its user interface and content, Kessler said.

“We tried to make it a website that’s user-friendly and can easily transition from year to year,” he said. “I think we’ve

been successful and it has more of a professional look to it, which we’re very proud of.”

Kessler, who is originally from Johnstown, Pa., says that he became involved with THON because he was looking for leadership opportunities. He was a Finance Committee member during his sophomore year, then a communications captain as a junior. His dedication to THON, he said, stems from his belief that the organization will help find a cure for cancer.

“It’s such a great cause that’s really intensely devoted to one thing,” he said. “It’s a testament to the student body and to the university community as a whole.”

Kessler echoed Yankoski’s statement that the IST curriculum prepares students to take on leadership roles and effectively manage groups.

“IST very actively promotes leadership in all of its classes through group projects and I believe that has instilled a certain amount of passion for leadership in me,” he said.

“Also, the diverse technical background that IST has provided allows me to be an effective part of a variety of conversations.”

Kessler will put the skills and knowledge he gained at IST to further use when he starts work at GE Capital in their Information Technology Leadership Program in July.

Chris Kessler, THON 2013 Overall Technology Chairperson

13Fall 2012

IST’S OFFICE OF CAREER SOLUTIONS:

Helping students find success in the job market

For the past eight years, students at the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) have been gaining an edge in the job market by networking with corporate representatives at Pro Expo, a career fair designed specifically for the college. The 2012 Pro Expo, which was held Sept. 10 in the IST Building, was even more successful than in past years, as new companies were represented at the fair. The Pro Expo is organized by the IST Office of Career Solutions, which helps students prepare for, and maximize, internship and job opportunities, in addition to other post-graduate plans.

“Part of our office’s mission is to prepare students for life after graduation and the corporate world,” said Madhavi Kari, director of Career Solutions at IST.

This year, representatives from nearly 60 companies attended the Pro Expo, with about 500 students in attendance. All sixteen IST Corporate Associates, including Capital One, Ernst & Young, and PNC Financial Services, were present at the Pro Expo. Participants in the Corporate Associates program, which launched in 2011, engage with the College of IST on a strategic level and have priority access to students who are searching for jobs, leaders of student organizations, and administrative personnel.

“Through the Corporate Associates program, we’re looking to develop long-term relationships with employers,” Kari said.

In addition to the Corporate Associates, this year’s Pro Expo featured about six new companies, including Living Social and Verizon. The day after the fair, representatives held formal interviews at the Nittany Lion Inn with about 200 students who had made favorable impressions on them.

Zoe Meyer, associate director of Career Solutions, echoed Kari’s sentiments that this year’s Pro Expo was highly productive.

“A lot of students found internships and jobs through the Pro Expo,” she said.

The Pro Expo is open to all undergraduate students who are majoring in IST or Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) at all of the Penn State commonwealth campuses. The event started with 15 companies in its first year in 2005, Kari said, and has grown steadily over the years.

Pro Expo is just one of the many networking and professional development opportunities offered through IST’s Office of Career Solutions, which exists to help guide students through the internship and job-search process.

15Fall 2012

Career Solutions takes a holistic approach in its interactions with students, Kari said. The services that the office provides include internship and professional placement opportunities, executive mentoring, interview preparation, comprehensive job search tools, and a student-led career assistance team. In addition to Kari, the Career Solutions team includes Meyer and Rita Griffith, corporate associates liaison. Meyer assists Kari in counseling students and manages the internship program. In addition to managing the Corporate Associates program, Griffith facilitates events and conducts senior placement surveys. In her role as director of Career Solutions, Kari works with her team to develop strategies in serving the students’ needs and creating relationships with employers.

“We try to guide students to a career path where they would really be happy and fit in best,” Kari said.

One of the tools that students can use to get an inside track on the job market is Compass, a job posting system specific to the College of IST, which is managed by Meyer. IST or SRA undergraduate students at the University Park campus can search for internships, co-ops, and full-time job postings

unique to their majors. In addition, they can schedule interviews, learn about upcoming events, and register for presentations, information sessions, and field trips.

“Compass is the number-one place where we encourage students to look for positions,” Meyer said.

Some of the common requests that students bring to Career Solutions, Kari said, include assistance with their résumés, advice on interview preparation, and professional development opportunities. Some of the opportunities offered by the office include information sessions, corporate day trips, dining etiquette seminars, mock interviews, workshops, résumé reviews, and case study competitions. Topics of recent seminars include “Negotiating Your Salary,” “Preparing for Success after Graduation,” and “Creating Your Personal Brand.”

“It’s really our job to say, ‘Yes, you do have the skills, you just have to highlight them,’” Kari said.

There are some new developments on the horizon, Kari said. In the fall 2013 semester, IST will enhance its current IST Diplomats program to add leadership

Zoe Meyer, Madhavi Kari, and Rita Griffith


and professional development initiatives to the already existing outreach and volunteer component. The new program, IST’s Diplomat Leadership Academy, will invite senior executives from Corporate Associate companies to help “groom students on how to become technology leaders.” Career Solutions is currently collecting applications for the program, Kari said, which will feature 15 to 20 roundtables from a variety of industries.

By gaining exposure to the diverse views of successful business leaders, Kari said, students who participate in the Leadership Academy will be better equipped to make their own mark in their chosen fields.

“Our mission is to provide students with qualities and skills that help them influence, innovate, impact, and inspire,” she said.

The overall goal of Career Solutions, Kari said, is to “prepare and navigate our students to succeed both personally and professionally” after they graduate from the College of IST.

“We want to be able to provide our students with all the resources and guidance to reach their goals and fulfill their dreams,” she said. “Their success is our success.”

Future Forum 2013

Hope to see you January 31st for Future Forum 2013.

The Future Forum is IST’s spring career fair that gives students the chance to explore career and internship opportunities and offers employers exclusive access to our impressive pool of talented future interns and employees.Visit: http://ist.psu.edu/future-forum

17Fall 2012

IST Around the State

IST 331 team develops “kPaint” app that interprets movement and voice By Joe Oakes, senior lecturer of IST, Penn State Abington

Imagine the futuristic possibilities where humans interface with computer applications without using input devices like the keyboard and mouse. IST 331: Organization and Design of Information Systems explores how these new technologies combined with art and design impact human communication related to information systems. In the field of human computer interaction (HCI), natural language processing (NLP) deals with computer systems that interpret the languages that humans use.

During the summer of 2012, IST student Jason Leber (ISSAB ‘12) led a team project in IST 331 that explored the HCI capabilities of Microsoft Kinect to create a paint application, which they dubbed “kPaint,” that interprets both movement and voice. The idea behind the application was to design a virtual whiteboard or drawing tool that tracks hand motions and recognizes voice commands to draw or write in a virtual environment without the need for expensive equipment.

When using the application, the user speaks voice commands that are set up using a preparatory command followed by the command choice. For example, in order to select the

color red, the user would say, “color red.” Each application feature has its own preparatory command and a list of command choices, which allows for the natural feel of talking to be used during operation while at the same time avoiding standard conversation from interfering with the application. During this process, the Kinect tracks the user’s hand and interprets it as a cursor on the screen. With a simple, “draw start” command, the user can draw or write on the canvas using his or her hand.

Leber’s team developed the application in six weeks. They plan to continue development on kPaint to bring it to market.

International student brings academic, athletic acumen to campusAfter two years studying computer science at Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Ashutosh Pandey is completing an Information Sciences (IST) and Technology degree at Penn State New Kensington. He traveled 8,000 miles to his first class. Pandey is a native of Mumbai, India, and one of a group of international students matriculating at the campus this semester. They hail from China, Ghana, Uganda, and India. Internationals are a growing segment of Penn State’s student population and the New Kensington campus is doing its part in bringing in quality students from foreign countries. In the past year, the campus increased its enrollment from one international student to six. A junior in the (IST) program, Pandey brings an impressive résumé to the campus. He is an accomplished researcher and presented two papers at national and international conferences while attending Thakur. His papers on 4G technology and speech recognition technology were published in international journals.

“I was a part of a program which allows students at Thakur to transfer to one of eight Penn State campuses to complete their bachelor’s degrees,” said Pandey. “I chose New Kensington based on what I saw on their website, its location and discussions with friends. I made a good choice.”

Read more online: http://live.psu.edu/63055

Joe Oakes, senior lecturer of IST, and Jason Leber review “kPaint” application code.

IST student Jason Leber, demonstrates the “kPaint” application.


IST Around the State

Alan Peslak, associate professor of information sciences and technology (IST) at Penn State Worthington Scranton, has been named IST Statewide Faculty Member of the Year for 2012-13 by the University.

The honor, which has been given annually since 2002, is given to a full-time faculty member from the Penn State system who has demonstrated a high degree of excellence and

commitment to the IST/SRA programs at their campus, across the Commonwealth, and with regard to their students.

Confidential nominations are made from the statewide faculty from early July to mid-August of each year and the final decision is made by the IST dean, IST associate dean for undergraduate education, and IST associate dean for research and graduate studies.

Peslak began teaching at Worthington Scranton in August 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree and a master’s of business administration from the University of Scranton, and another master’s degree and his doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Alan Peslak named IST Statewide Faculty Member of the Year

Abington students go global to explore robotics, revolutions, religionPenn State Abington students will have the opportunity to incorporate the benefits of international education into their coursework this spring through four courses with short-term travel components. The curriculum will require students to travel to Nicaragua for an examination of the Sandinista Revolution, to Italy for robotics, and to England for criminal justice and religious studies.

The Robotics in Italy course is designed to give a group of Abington engineering and information

sciences and technology (IST) majors the chance to explore robotics technology and culture in an international setting. After traveling to Rome in association with Roma Tre University, they will work with international faculty and students and visit robotics laboratories as well as international companies and organizations. The students also will explore cultural sites related to robotics and engineering design.

Read more online: http:// live.psu.edu/story/62885

Dr. Elinor Madigan, professor of information sciences and technology (IST) at Penn State Schuylkill. Photo by University Publications.

IST professor selected in Faces of Penn State Campaign

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A recipient of the University-wide IST Outstanding Faculty Award, Madigan’s research has focused on diversity in the field and applications of technology, including how gender impacts confidence vis-à-vis information technology, how family income and parent education impacts first-year university students’ use of technology, and the effectiveness of technology use in emergency management training and operations.

Read more about Dr. Madigan:http://faces.psu.edu

19Fall 2012

Donor Spotlight: Ron SegalCEO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR SPECTRUM SYSTEMS, INC.

Ronald Segal, CEO and chairman of the board for Spectrum Systems, Inc., based in Fairfax, Va., has been a long-time supporter of the College of IST. He and his wife, Beverly Dickerson, have contributed more than $45,000 to the college since 2005. Their scholarship, the Harry L. Segal Scholarship, was created to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the College of IST.

Under Segal’s leadership, Spectrum has evolved from a provider of turn-key office automation systems for small businesses into a full-service IT solutions company focused on the federal government. Segal has more than thirty-five years of senior information technology management experience in commercial, academic, and nonprofit arenas, including more than

twenty-five years focusing on the federal government.

Segal holds a B.S. in engineering science from Penn State and an M.S. in systems engineering and operations research from the University of Pennsylvania; he has completed all course requirements for a Ph.D. in systems engineering and operations research.

Segal recently took some time to answer questions about his late father’s philosophy on education, his partnership with the College of IST, and how he has navigated a rapidly changing industry.

iConnect: What made you and Beverly decide to establish a scholarship for the College of IST in your father’s name?


Segal: The decision to establish a scholarship named after my father was based on his appreciation of the value of a good education. He emigrated from Eastern Europe with his widowed mother at the age of three, and left school at fourteen to help support his mother, stepfather, and three step-siblings. Shortly after I was born, he started working six days a week so that we could live within walking distance of the best public schools in Philadelphia. Although very motivated to get as much personal education as possible, and a voracious reader, my father could only obtain a high school equivalency degree at night given his circumstances. Even though he died when I was relatively young, and left very little money, there was never a question about college. My mother went to work to cover living expenses, and my sister and I focused on getting our college educations. He would have been very proud to know that I was the first person in my extended family to get a college degree, and my younger sister was the first female to do so.

iConnect: You have degrees in engineering. What made you and Beverly choose to support the College of IST?

Segal: During the early-to-mid ‘70s, I was on the faculty of the Sloan School of Business at New York University as director of the undergraduate program in computer science and information systems, and was one of the three faculty founders of the MBA program of the same title. Both programs attracted the best and brightest, did a lot of innovative things, were a lot of fun to participate in, and led to fantastic job opportunities for graduates. Almost 30 years later, I am still in touch with three of our best students. I met IST’s first dean Jim Thomas, a year before the IST program was launched and was overwhelmed by his vision. Not only had he modernized and greatly expanded what we were attempting to accomplish much earlier, he was also answering the current industry need that I had observed over the last fifteen years. We hit it off immediately. So far, I have been unable to contribute

much time, but I hope to improve on that a bit once my work obligations taper off.

iConnect: How have you dealt with the challenges in your industry?

Segal: About five years into Spectrum, we fell into very hard times due to contract funding issues with the government. On two occasions, our accountants recommended that we close down over the weekend. Each time, I met with the bankruptcy attorneys and had to choose between cutting our losses and using the rest of our money as their retainer, or using the funds – plus a little help from employees, a little more help from managers, and a lot of understanding from suppliers – to meet payroll. Everyone was eventually paid in full and rewarded for their loyalty. Most importantly, we were recognized as a company that did whatever it took to meet our commitments in full.

The current fiscal environment has created the need for a dramatic change in our business profile if we are to take advantage of the foundation that we have established. Between the need for change, and recent health issues, I have decided to sell the company to a group that will provide the expertise, vision, and energy to dramatically grow the business, while maintaining the culture that is so important to our employees and partners.

iConnect: What advice would you give to IST students to make themselves stand out in the job market and succeed in their chosen fields?

Segal: I would advise them to pick an area that they really enjoy and can focus on and demonstrate excitement about when they talk about it. Don’t worry a whole lot about how “hot” it is. For their first few jobs, they should put the work environment and what they’ll learn at a higher priority than the compensation.

21Fall 2012

Where Are They Now?

Wireless technology, which enables information to be transferred between two or more points that are not physically connected, has changed the way people do business and conduct their lives. Brendan DeBow, a 2003 graduate of Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), is helping to make the U.S. safer by bringing emerging wireless technology to the federal government.

“Over the past five to seven years, wireless has become a huge, very growing market within the government,” said DeBow, who for the past nine years was an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, and recently became head of wireless development at Defense Engineering, Inc. (DEI), a strategy and technology engineering consulting firm headquartered in Crystal City, Va.

DeBow supports wireless infrastructure for the Department of Defense

Brendan DeBow (IST ’03)


Where Are They Now?

You don’t have to feel like you have to have a specific focus, but if you do find something you’re interested in, grab a hold of it and make it your own.

As a consultant for the Department of Defense (DOD), DeBow, who lives in Arlington, Va., specializes in the design and implementation of wireless systems. His responsibilities have included supporting the system development life cycle and designing systems around the DOD’s requirements.

“We’re making information more secure and helping war fighters in the field communicate with each other,” he said.

As the government has pushed for a lot of cutbacks in spending in recent years, DeBow said, wireless technology has been an asset in cutting costs. Wireless network infrastructure can now be built with minimal up-front costs and provides organizations with an energy- efficient alternative compared to traditional wired alternatives.

“The return on investment is having people be more productive, not being tethered to their desks to do work, and providing the freedom to gain access to resources across a broader range of locations,” he said.

DeBow, who is originally from Maryland, says he didn’t have a clear idea of what he wanted to do when he started at Penn State in 1999. Originally, he was a tuba performance major and also a member of the Varsity Men’s Lacrosse team. He was interested in dual majoring in music and computer science, he said, but “didn’t want to be a programmer.” Eventually, he decided to enroll at IST and dropped out of the music program.

During his junior year at IST, DeBow said, he had his first real taste of information technology (IT)

consulting and project management. He “gained a lot of skills in project management that he still uses every day,” including estimating tasks and evaluating how different technologies work with each other while designing a system.

“It comes down to schedule, costs, and risk,” he said. “If you can’t prove to client(s) that a system is timely and cost-efficient, it’s not going to go anywhere.”

DeBow, who interned at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration while at IST, said that he finally decided on a career path after taking Dr. Chao-Hsien Chu’s wireless communications class as an elective during his senior year.

“I really grabbed onto it,” DeBow said, “This is where I thought the future is going to be.”

In his free time, DeBow said, he coaches a high school lacrosse team and also enjoys hanging out with his wife and dog, playing basketball, football, golf, and snowboarding.

DeBow, who said that he would eventually like to go back to school for an MBA or other advanced degree, advises current IST students to trust their instincts when deciding on a career.

“You don’t have to feel like you have to have a specific focus, but if you do find something you’re interested in, grab a hold of it and make it your own,” he said.

23Fall 2012

IST Alumni Society News

As you know, our alumni at Penn State are some of the greatest alumni in the world! IST and SRA alumni are certainly making a name for themselves as a part of this excellent group of people. Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with alumni from all over the country. We have alumni who are highly successful in their careers, whether they are running a start-up company in the San Francisco Bay Area, or they are a Vice President of a major Fortune 100 firm, or are highly integrated into supporting the intelligence and defense networks in the DC area. We even have alums who have started their own record label! It’s clear to me after seeing what our alums have been able to accomplish in just a short time, that an IST or SRA degree is a very powerful program to be a part of.

While I would love to spend pages upon pages highlighting some of the great things our alumni are doing, I’ll let the rest of this iConnect issue do that for me. For current students, you can meet some of these outstanding alumni at upcoming events such as the Future Forum in January or Start-up Week in March, both coming up this spring. Additionally, if you are an alum and would like to tell your story, my door is open. Please feel free to email me at [email protected].

Lastly, I’d like to highlight one initiative that is currently under way, that all aumni, friends, students, and faculty of IST and SRA should be a part of. A few months ago, IST alumn Garrett Miller (IST ’11) sat down and decided that he wanted to do something to help raise money for THON. With the help of Cory Trimm (SCI ’13), in October, he launched PSU Pledge (http://www.psupledge.com). PSU Pledge allows you to use your existing Twitter account to make a donation to THON. You make a commitment of a certain amount for each tweet ($.01 to $1/tweet), and designate the organization you would like to support. Between now and THON, any tweet you make will be counted. To date, this project has raised over $10,000 for THON! It’s very easy to sign up, so do it today, and make your tweets count for one of the greatest student fundraising events in the world!

Happy New Year, and as always, please let us know how we can better serve you in the future!

Paul Horn (IST ’04)President, IST Alumni Society


Blue-White Weekend festivities April 19 - 21, 2013The annual spring football scrimmage will take place Sat., April 20, inside Beaver Stadium. To get you in the spirit to cheer on your favorite Penn State team, an IST tailgate will be held in advance of the game. Details about the tailgate are forth coming.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 21 at 12:00 p.m., for the annual spring IST Alumni Society meeting. Join the conversation at 206 IST Building—or via conference line by dialing into (814) 863-2330.

Also on April 21, the fourth annual Beaver Stadium 5K Run/Family Fun Walk to benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania will be held. The Beaver Stadium Run garnered more than 3,000 participants and raised more than $310,000 last year, making it the single-largest fundraising event in Special Olympics Pennsylvania history. To register for the Beaver Stadium 5K Run/Family Fun Walk go to: http://www.stadiumrun.org.

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25Fall 2012

Sean Smith, 1978 - 2012

Sean Smith, a Penn State World Campus student studying information sciences and technology, was killed as part of the attack on the U.S consulate in Libya on September 11th. Smith was 34 years old, and an information management official with the U.S. State Department.

Smith was stationed in the Netherlands, but was deployed to Libya to assist their IT efforts. He was also an air force veteran.

Smith was honored during the Penn State vs. Navy football game on September 15th, and he was recognized during the World Campus graduation celebration in December.

Keep In Touch

Engaged?Marriage/Union?New Job or Promotion?

Let us know and we will spread the word among our IST alumni.

Stay connected:[email protected]

IST Alumni Society News

In Memoriam

Karen Pothering, ’10, September 10, 2012

John G. Smith, ’03, July 29, 2011

Sean Smith, IST student

September 11, 2012

The IST Alumni Society created a THON subcommittee this year to better support IST FTK, IST’s student THON organization. Finance Chair and former THON dancer Russ Beck ’11 appointed another former THON dancer, Colleen Cwenar ’12, to lead the subcommittee, which enables large groups of active IST THON alumni to continue to support the cause. Already this year, IST Alumni Society members hosted 35 IST students for a canning weekend in Arlington, VA. The alumni have a great relationship with current students, which is fostered by an IST FTK alumni listserv and newsletter, produced by the Alumni Relations chair. Through this listserv, current

students are able to seek donations via THONline fundraising and keep alumni updated on our THON family, the Murphy’s. Finally, one of our IST alumni is a founding member of PSU Pledge, an innovative opportunity for people to make a donation to THON simply by tweeting. The IST Alumni Society looks forward to continuing this relationship with IST FTK as a means to keep involvement strong among our alumni long after graduation.

Colleen Cwenar, IST ‘12

In Memoriam

Fall Photo Album1. IST Building by Eric Weiss 2. IST Pro Expo, held September 10, 2012 3. Current IST students and alumni canning in Arlington, VA4. Nittany Lion Shrine

5. Old Main lawn in fall 6. Blue Band performing at IST Corporate Associates Dean’s Reception 7. Mary Beth Rosson, associate dean for undergraduate studies & Chase Miller, SRA ’14


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In 2012, we conceived of Start-up Week as a celebration, a way to highlight the success of young entrepreneurs in technology and showcase the possibilities that exist for enterprising students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at Penn State to bring their dreams to fruition.

Our inaugural event drew a dozen speakers from around the country, including many IST alumni, who have created well-respected and valued businesses and products in today’s technology market. Among the ranks were founders of high-profile companies like Reddit, CareerBliss, Sincerely, and Weebly. They shared their stories of determination and inspiration with the Penn State community, and engaged with students through networking events and workshops.

Leveraging the momentum of Start-up Week 2012, we are planning an even more robust experience for attendees in 2013. Students from across Penn State will be invited to take part in this exciting week of events. We also plan to bring back many of the speakers from the original event along with many new and noteworthy innovators.

Through this annual event and other initiatives, such as scholarships for those with an interest in starting their own companies and the addition of an entrepreneurial minor, the College of IST looks to strengthen its commitment to actively supporting entrepreneurship both in and out of the classroom and to connecting our students with innovative alumni who are achieving success through start-up initiatives.

Start-up Week March 18 - 23, 2013Save the Date!

#ISTstartuphttp://ist .psu.edu/startup

College of Information Sciences and Technology

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