Alumnus Scott Robertson receives College of IST’s highest honor
Scott Michael Robertson, an alumnus of the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State, was selected as the 2022 recipient of the IST Outstanding Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the college upon its graduates.
Forty graduate students recognized with prestigious University awards
Forty Penn State graduate students were named recipients of Penn State’s most prestigious annual graduate student awards, administered by the Graduate School in collaboration with several Penn State units.
Commitment to technology, public service set IST alum up for success
As a full-time database consulting engineer, an independent financial adviser, and a commissioner in his local community, College of IST alumnus Fred Faylona relies on his Penn State experience to succeed professionally and make a difference in his community.
5 student startups win funding in Inc.U Competition
Student startup Bindr, a dating app that provides a safe space online for bisexual individuals, won $15,000, the largest prize amount, in the 2023 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition.
IST’s 'Be You in Tech' Summit celebrates diversity, encourages empowerment
The College of Information Sciences and Technology recently partnered with RMS US LLP to present the 2023 Be You in Tech Summit.
IST Career Spotlight: Megan Tucker flies ahead with Boeing
As an IT business partner for Boeing, Megan Tucker is the focal point for one of the company’s new defense helicopter programs. She works between the program and the enterprise to ensure all IT requirements are met and communicated.
Information Sciences and Technology faculty, staff recognized with annual awards
Faculty and staff in the College of Information Sciences and Technology were recognized at the college’s annual awards event this week. Recipients were nominated by their IST colleagues and selected by a review committee for their excellence in teaching, research and service.
IST Career Spotlight: Heather VanGorder maps Pepsi’s path
Heather VanGorder, who earned a bachelor’s degree in information sciences and technology in 2020, currently works as an IT analyst at PepsiCo Inc. Her team is responsible for setting up the mapping that gets PepsiCo products to their final destinations.
College of IST welcomes two new members to Dean’s Advisory Board
The College of Information Sciences and Technology recently welcomed two new members to its Dean’s Advisory Board: Andy Duffett, senior vice president, Global Revenue Operations at CrowdStrike, and Corey Lee, enterprise security executive for U.S. Education at Microsoft Corporation.
Mentors help first-generation IST alum find the right path
Joel Gill Jr. has established himself in a tech consulting career and has learned from a variety of experiences and mentors.
Arts and Architecture’s fall student marshal is first ever from World Campus
Carly Mojica, from Colorado Springs, is the first-ever Penn State World Campus student to serve as student marshal for the College of Arts and Architecture's commencement ceremony.
Real-world internship helps IST student make a meaningful impact
Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Djante McLaughlin is bringing his knowledge and passion for cybersecurity to life through his leadership with the IST Student Government and his work with the Department of Homeland Security.
Erica Mi named College of IST student marshal for fall 2022
The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology will honor Schreyer Honors Scholar Erica Mi as student marshal at its fall 2022 commencement, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 17.
On the Bridge — December 2022
A compilation of recent news, highlights, and achievements from the College of Information Sciences and Technology community.
NSF grant to help reimagine first-year experiences through diverse lens
A Penn State research team aims to meet the unique needs of increasingly diverse student bodies by reimagining first-year learning experiences in technology-related degree programs at U.S. universities, thanks to a new $296,804 grant from the National Science Foundation.
New coding tool could aid computer programmers who are blind or have low vision
A new tool could help make code reading, navigating and editing more accessible and efficient for blind and low-vision computer programmers, according to Penn State researchers.
IST students celebrate women in tech at annual Grace Hopper conference
Six Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology students attended the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Orlando, Florida, in late September to learn, network and celebrate the contributions women have made in the technology industry.
IST Identity Talks series presents ‘Paving the Way for Change’ on Oct. 19
Members of the Penn State community are invited to join the College of Information Sciences and Technology for “IST Identity Talks — Paving the Way for Change,” to be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19.
IST students form meaningful connections, celebrate diversity at Tapia
Fourteen College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students attended the three-day ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in Washington, D.C., in e
Strong community support drives success for IST student marshal
When James Reese represents the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) as student marshal at the summer commencement ceremony this month, it will be, in part, thanks to members of the IST community who believed in him.
Heard on Campus: Alumni share diverse perspectives in IST Identity Talks series
More than 40 Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology alumni from underrepresented backgrounds have participated in IST Identity Talks panel conversations, where they shared their unique perspectives and experiences of navigating the significant diversity gap that exists in the t
26-year-old IST student to earn second doctorate this spring
This weekend, as thousands of Penn Staters earn their degrees, one 26-year-old graduate of the College of Information Sciences and Technology will be presented with not her first, but second, doctorate.
Penn State student-developed app aims to redefine Black motherhood
A group of Penn State students is working to support a global initiative to redefine Black motherhood. Blending interdisciplinary expertise from across the University, the students are building a mobile health application designed to support the mental and physical health of Black moms.
Women in IST’s Wiki edit-a-thon aim to narrow the platform’s gender gap
A group of eight students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology recently set out to narrow this gender gap on the world’s fifth most popular website by hosting a Wiki edit-a-thon to increase visibility for one of the college’s most prominent female faculty members.
Alumni Achievement Award recipient Noel Claudio inspires IST students
Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology graduate Noel Claudio was one of 11 prominent young Penn State alumni recognized at the Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony on March 18.
Tech designed to aid visually impaired could benefit from human-AI collaboration
Remote sighted assistance technology — which connects visually impaired individuals with human agents through a live video call on their smartphones — helps people with low or no vision navigate tasks that require sight.
College of IST names Garraway assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion
The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology has named Jocelyn Bennett Garraway assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion. Holding three degrees from the University, Bennett Garraway has more than 30 years of experience as a counselor, educator and administrator.
IST Identity Talks series presents ‘Strength in Diversity’ on April 5
Members of the Penn State community are invited to join the College of Information Sciences and Technology for “IST Identity Talks – Strength in Diversity,” to be held virtually from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5.
IST Identity Talks series Feb. 28 presents ‘Women in Tech’
Members of the Penn State community are invited to join alumni of the College of Information Sciences and Technology for "IST Alumni Identity Talks – Women in Tech," to be held virtually from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28.
IST Identity Talks series Feb. 8 presents, ‘Celebrating Black History’
Members of the Penn State community are invited to join alumni of the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) for "IST Alumni Identity Talks – Celebrating Black History," to be held virtually from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8.
Happy Valley LaunchBox supports company serving underrepresented students
With help from Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, Joel Sakyi founded Vybrnt, a startup that provides underrepresented students better access to resources and opportunities that help them succeed during their time at college.
IST Alumni Identity Talks series, 'Military and Veterans in Tech,’ on Nov. 17
Members of the Penn State community are invited to join the College of Information Sciences and Technology for IST Alumni Identity Talks – Military and Veterans in Tech, to be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov.
New IST scholarship honors friendships formed at Penn State
Two College of Information Sciences and Technology alumni recently came together to establish a scholarship in memory of their friend and fellow classmate, Jimmy Lee Brown, who died in 2019.
Alumna-led nonprofit aims to empower female emergency dispatchers
Nearly a quarter of emergency dispatch personnel experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and the national turnover rate of 911 dispatchers is more than 17%.
IST Alumni Identity Talks series Sept. 15, 'Celebrating Hispanic Heritage'
Members of the Penn State community are invited to join alumni of the College of Information Sciences and Technology for IST Alumni Identity Talks — Celebrating Hispanic Heritage, to be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15.
IST alumnus and Latinx workers in tech advocate lands dream job at Twitter
Growing up in Philadelphia, Noel Claudio never thought that it was possible to work for a big social media tech company unless he lived in California or New York.
Overcoming homelessness and hardships to earn a Penn State degree
On his 18th birthday, Joel Seidel became emancipated from his parents and, in turn, homeless. He said Penn State equipped him with the tools and resources he needed to succeed, including support from scholarships.
Alumni sisters experience IST 10 years apart, advocate for diversity in tech
Many alumni can say that the Penn State legacy runs in their family, but few can say that they graduated from the same college as their sibling.
Study of police language aims to find patterns that may lead to tragic outcomes
With a new grant from the National Institutes of Health, an interdisciplinary team of researchers aims to examine police radio communications to observe what happens during adverse encounters between police officers and male minority youth and study any patterns of interaction that may lead to un
AI-powered software to improve public health outcomes in underserved communities
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a struggle for many students. But for Kareem Jelks, the pandemic has fueled his passion to help others, especially those in underserved communities.
New tool could help lessen bias in live television broadcasts
From Sunday morning news shows to on-air pregame commentary in sports, live telecasts draw viewers into real-time content on televisions around the world.
Lees establish educational equity scholarship at IST
Corey and Leteace Lee have established an educational equity scholarship in the College of Information Sciences and Technology to support students with financial need who are first-generation or from underrepresented backgrounds.
IST Alumni Identity Talks spark dialogue on diversity between students, alumni
“Be intentional.” “Remember your why.” “Be clear on who you are.” “You’re not alone.” Those were a few of the main takeaways shared by panelists with students during the first IST Alumni Identity Talks event, hosted virtually by the College of Information Sciences and Technology last month.
IST alumna aims to impact social justice issues through video game design
With the video game industry expected to near $200 billion in revenue by 2022, game designers have expanded their reach to interest different types of players.
New app aims to help bring community to underrepresented students
Penn State students now have an easier way to connect with campus organizations that match their backgrounds and interests through a new app designed by a team of students, Vybrnt, which was launched to help students from underrepresented backgrounds to build community on campus.
IST students honor diversity in computing at virtual TAPIA conference
In mid-September, 17 College of Information Sciences and Technology students attended the annual ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference, an event celebrating diversity in the technology field.
Six educational equity scholarships established at the College of IST
Six educational equity scholarships have recently been established to benefit students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
Dean Andrew Sears establishes educational equity scholarship at College of IST
In response to financial challenges students face when pursuing a college degree, and motivated in part by the significant social justice issues across the country, Andrew Sears, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, and his wife, Beth, have made a gift to establish the Andr
Nonprofit provides STEAM education to underserved youth in Atlanta
Joe Lewis, a 2010 graduate of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, created a nonprofit organization to give children in underserved communities in Atlanta the opportunity to learn about and experience technology after noticing disparities that existed in the city's school syst
Women across IST at Penn State are creating a 'culture of empowerment'
The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology recently hosted a “Sit With Me” initiative, which was held as part of the global campaign powered by the National Center for Women & Information Technology to recognize and validate the important role women play in creating future