Training Cyber Security Defenders

Wildcats go on to top cyber security school

Fifteen Weber State University management information systems (MIS) graduates from the Class of 2019 continued their educational pursuits at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), home to the U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1-ranked graduate program for information technology and management. Six completed a summer fellowship program; nine began their master’s degrees.

Recognizing the need for highly skilled cyber security and information systems professionals, WSU associate professor of MIS Randy Boyle collaborated with industry leaders to develop an innovative formula of curriculum and instruction to meet industry demand, and prepare students for advanced degrees.

Boyle’s students have been successfully competing for placements in the CMU summer fellowship for several years. In 2018, nine of the 25 students in the fellowship were selected from WSU, and in 2019, six of the 30 were from WSU. CMU covers all fellowship costs. Students who finish the program and are admitted to a master’s program at CMU automatically qualify for a scholarship covering at least half of tuition, a $55,000 value.

In 2019, Boyle also spearheaded a partnership where his students vie for limited spots in CMU’s master’s programs.