KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 15, 2019
Kennesaw State professor brings wealth of information security expertise
成人直播 has selected , professor of information security and assurance, to serve as executive director of the Institute for Cybersecurity Workforce Development (ICWD), home to the University鈥檚 .
Whitman is the ICWD鈥檚 first executive director. His role involves managing the interdisciplinary y program and developing additional cybersecurity degrees, certificates and professional
education opportunities.
He brings more than 20 years of experience teaching information security courses.
A distinguished researcher and author, Whitman has written 10 widely used textbooks
and published information systems research in top academic journals. He also is the
executive director of the (CISE), which supports cybersecurity education initiatives across the region.
鈥淢ike Whitman has years of experience developing and leading cybersecurity education,鈥 said Jon Preston, dean of the , who was part of the committee that appointed Whitman. 鈥淎dditionally, he has a strong ability to work with all students, faculty and staff within the contributing colleges to make the Institute successful.鈥
Kennesaw State formed the ICWD in 2017 as part of a statewide initiative to encourage businesses and governments to create cybersecurity jobs in Georgia. Answering the University System of Georgia鈥檚 call for a comprehensive, online cybersecurity degree, the ICWD established Kennesaw State鈥檚 B.S. in Cybersecurity the same year.
Offered exclusively online through the USG鈥檚 eMajor platform, the B.S. in Cybersecurity is a collaboration between the , the College of Computing and Software Engineering, and the . The ICWD oversees the program by scheduling the courses, coordinating with the academic
departments on faculty schedules and representing the program inside and outside the
University.
Whitman was one of the initial organizers of the ICWD as well as a key architect of the cybersecurity degree program. As ICWD鈥檚 executive director, one of his focuses will be on managing the degree鈥檚 rapid growth.
鈥淓nrollment already is far ahead of what we expected,鈥 Whitman said. 鈥淎t the end of year one, we already were at year three enrollment projections. The short-term tactical challenges will be to manage that growth.鈥
Program enrollment currently sits at more than 430 students, Whitman said, adding
that Kennesaw State plans to hire additional cybersecurity faculty in the and Information Systems departments.
Under Whitman鈥檚 leadership, the ICWD also will assume management of several key initiatives previously conducted by the CISE, including organizing the annual ; hosting the ; and publishing the Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice.
鈥淭his should enhance those opportunities, as the events will now be seen as much more interdisciplinary in nature,鈥 Whitman said. 鈥淲e hope to attract more faculty and student interest because they will see that these activities are not just part of the Coles College of Business.鈥
Whitman said the ICWD鈥檚 interdisciplinary focus is one of the key things that attracted him to the position. The program requires students to complete IT courses offered by the CCSE and Information Security and Assurance courses through the Coles College, while offering criminal justice electives in cybercrime through the CHSS.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unique in that it really brings together several disciplines,鈥 Whitman said. 鈥淪ome computer-related, some not. That really allows students to tailor their degree program to their personal interests and career preferences.鈥
The B.S. in Cybersecurity is one of three cybersecurity-focused degrees offered by
Kennesaw State, along with the more managerial Bachelor of Business Administration
in Information Security and Assurance through the Coles College and the Bachelor of
Science in Information Technology through theCollege of Computing and Software Engineering.
All three degrees have helped 成人直播 earn a reputation for producing skilled information
security graduates.
CyberDegrees.org ranked Kennesaw State first in its , while Military Timesranked the University among the top 10 best cybersecurity programs
for veterans. Kennesaw State is also recognized by the National Security Agency and
the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in
Information Assurance/Cybersecurity for the years 2015-2021.
Whitman earned a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Auburn University鈥檚 Harbert College of Business and previously served in the U.S. Army as an officer in the 2nd Armored Cavalry with duties as an automated data processing system security officer.
鈥 Patrick Harbin
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 成人直播 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.