College of Informatics at NKU

NKU was proud to partner with Saint Andrews Georgian University • SANGU for the Second Tbilisi International Cybersecurity Conference today! The conference featured leaders from NKU and SANGU, reps from business and government, and alums from the NKU-SANGU dual MS in Cybersecurity. Dean Kirby was on a panel on Academia and Cybersecurity led by David Ellery from the Changing Character of War Centre at Oxford University. Dean Kirby also led a panel on AI and Cybersecurity. The Women in Cybersecurity panel featured two alums from the NKU-SANGU program. NKU MS Cybersecurity Program Director Wei Hao gave a research talk to conclude the conference.

Cyber19 Call for Proposals is now open! 🚨 Be part of the dialogue about the rapidly evolving cybersecurity field at the 19th Annual Cybersecurity Symposium by submitting a proposal to present, workshop, or share research and best practices through roundtable discussions or panel sessions. Deadline for proposal submissions is Thursday, June 18. Submit your proposal at tinyurl.com/cyber19cfp.

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ The 19th Annual Cybersecurity Symposium at Northern Kentucky University will take place on October 16, 2026. Join industry leaders, educators, legal experts, and cybersecurity professionals for a day of presentations, workshops, panel sessions, and roundtable discussions on emerging threats, AI-driven risks, compliance, privacy, and more. Whether you’re new to cybersecurity or a seasoned practitioner, Cyber19 offers insights for every experience level.

You’re officially to the finish line. 🏁 We hope you have a great summer break. Griffin Hall will see you back in the fall, unless you’re graduating, which in that case… Congratulations! 🎉

Our iSSAC team racked up awards, certifications, and nominations at the Outstanding Academic Advisor Awards yesterday 👏 Their commitment and dedication to student success is pivotal to what makes the College of Informatics so special. They all deserve to be celebrated each and every day! Outstanding Advisor Award: Kelly Craig Rising Star Award: Kel Smith Master Advisor Certification: Lisa McElfresh Master Advisor Renewal: Kelly Craig and Jen Ungerleider Certified Senior Master Advisor: Lisa Brun Senior Master Advisor Candidate: Jen Ungerleider Outstanding Advisor Award Nominees: Kel Smith, Kara Thompson, Jen Ungerleider, Lisa Brun, Lisa McElfresh, and Kelly Craig

Last week was a great time for celebration as our School of Computing and Analytics also held their Student Awards! 🎈 Congratulations to the following SCA award winners 🏆 Outstanding Contributor in Data Science Club: Aaditya Khanal Outstanding Contributor in Norse IoT Club: Aaron Milner Outstanding Student in Computer Science: Ayush Bhandari Outstanding Student in Information Technology: Ben Molloy Outstanding Student in Cybersecurity: Brandon Anthony Outstanding Contributor in Home Lab Club: Caleb Fidler Outstanding Student in Library Informatics: Christin Frederick Outstanding Graduate Student in Computer Science: Dmitrios Stathis Outstanding Student in Data Science: Gaurab Baral Outstanding Contributor in Programming Club: Haley Hunt Outstanding Student in Computer Science: Isha Nepal Outstanding Graduate Student in Health Informatics: Jayme Lanker Outstanding Student in Applied Software Engineering: Jeffrey Perdue Outstanding Graduate Student in Cybersecurity: Michael Otu Outstanding Student in Information Systems and Business Analytics: Raniya Digankar Outstanding Contributor in Cyber Club: Sujal Parajuli Outstanding Contributor in NKU WiCyS: Tracey Kayembe Kamwimbi Outstanding Graduate Student in Information Systems: Trevor Mueller

Last week, our School of Media and Communication held their Celebration of Student Achievement. Congratulations to all SMC award winners! 🥳🏆 Public Relations Norse Up Award: Andrea Saavedra Ferreira Public Relations Recognition Award: Brooke Doll Public Relations Outstanding Senior: Ella Cooper Communication Studies Recognition Awards: Samantha Fragassi and Ella Rinehard Communication Studies Norse Up Award: Stephen Freeman Communication Studies Outstanding Senior: Emma-Kate Bennett 3D Digital Design & VFX Recognition Awards: Hoang Anh Nguyen, Enrique Paredes, Connor Tiemeier, and Blake Viox 3D Digital Design & VFX Outstanding Senior: Jessica Luebbers Electronic Media & Broadcasting Recognition Awards: Mason Gay, John Hensey, Matthew Herman, and Josephine Scharf Electronic Media & Broadcasting Norse Up Award: Yousef Naji Electronic Media & Broadcasting Outstanding Senior: Dakota Summer Health Communication Outstanding Senior: Devin Bishop Journalism Recognition Awards: Elijah Dean and Adelyn McCollum Journalism Lois Sutherland Award: Henry Crawford Journalism Outstanding Senior: Eros Ritchie Top Scholar Awards: Devan Foster and Camilo Idrobo

Less than 1% of Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets nationwide are selected for the U.S. Army Cyber Corps—a highly competitive pathway into one of the military’s most critical and rapidly evolving fields. Northern Kentucky University senior Ben Molloy is one of them. But Molloy’s path to that distinction didn’t begin with accolades or leadership roles. It began, as he put it, with an “abysmal” social life during 2020 and the quiet uncertainty of starting college during a time when connection felt out of reach. “Social life was abysmal; it did not exist,” Molloy said. “However, ironically, that’s when I met my wife.” From those early days of isolation, Molloy built a college career defined by hard work and discipline. A triple major in cybersecurity, computer information technology, and applied software engineering with a minor in computer science, he balanced coursework with a student role in NKU’s IT security team, leadership in NKCyber Club, and a commitment to ROTC—each step bringing him closer to a future in cyber defense. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g-zBxxtm

Our School of Media and Communication’s Creative partnership with the The Underground Agency from the NKU Haile College of Business took away top prize at the Cincinnati chapter of the American Marketing Association's Pinnacle Awards for Best Collegiate/Student Marketing Plan, Campaign, and/or Program featuring Filippo Berio USA Ltd. 🫒 Our SMC Creative folks were eager to hop on board to add digital content that always results in a great partnership. No matter if it’s through study abroad or right here on campus, fantastic work is always created. This is a perfect example of real-life marketing projects and how the collaboration between colleges can lead to something extraordinary. Congratulations to all! 🎬🏆

A Taste of Informatics on Tuesday evening started with a Northerner alumni panel discussion where members of the panel reflected on their time with The Northerner, life after graduation, and navigating the media landscape. Thanks to W. Frank Steely Library, a thoughtfully curated exhibit featuring many Northerner editions—from the first one published in 1970 to the most recent one—drew the attention of many. It was amazing being able to see the evolution of student journalism right before our eyes. Our School of Computing and Analytics students presented research projects and also had a few interactive stations set up in the Duke Energy Innovation Lab. Our School of Media and Communication gave a sneak peak at Story Lab, a creative launchpad for immersive and global storytelling, while also sharing some of their research and projects. Thank you to all who made this event a success. Here’s to the next 20 years of creativity and innovation! 🎈🥳