The Emporia State Cybersecurity Research and Outreach Center, which opened in early 2024 following a  $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is continuing to to invest in student education, internship opportunities and e-Ventures.

In late October, ESU hosted the Women in Technology Conference in Sauder Alumni Center which provided multiple opportunities for the ESU community to acquire knowledge about secure online habits.

The event had presentations from four leading women in technology which included Alexandra Ewy, Software Developer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas; Caroline Ruden, Security Operations Center Analyst Team Lead at Ennovar, Wichita State University; Angela Stevens, Security Operations Manager at  Spirit AeroSystems; and Wendy Wheat, a Senior Director of Systems Architecture at T-Mobile. 

Leticia Rust, Senior Director of Cybersecurity Research and Outreach Center, e-Ventures, and Internships notes that the Women In Technology presentation has already reached hundreds of local community members. 

“The community outreach has been a great success. We have provided 20 community events this semester, from speaking in high schools to civic groups and churches. Our Senior Center Technology dedication and Women In Technology were big successes for those in our community, not just on campus. Our outreach is designed to educate our community on the threats of cyber attacks and how to prevent most cyber issues. So far, we estimate to have reached several hundred community members in our outreach efforts,” said Rust. 

Rust also commented on how Emporia State’s Cybersecurity Center differs from other Universities around the state.

“We will be able to offer more hands-on activities and small class sizes compared to much larger schools. Our corporate, local business and government relationships will aid in internships and hiring opportunities for our students, increasing our placement rate as well as reducing the stress of securing a job after graduation,” said Rust

With a rise of more than $12 million in losses from cybercrimes in the U.S. in 2023, Rust also said that local community groups should be vigilant and aware of phishing scams, text scams and social media pitfalls. Cybersecurity is only 20% technology based and 80% human interaction.