Below is a transcript of our conversation with Paul Dunn:
David Nicholas:
I'm David Nicholas and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University students and faculty. You've heard the phrase that the world is getting smaller, while technology has brought us closer together, there is a far greater risk of computer centered crime. Central Michigan University has earned the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. It is a scholarship opportunity awarded by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. Business Information Systems faculty member Paul Dunn sat down with me so I could learn more…
Paul Dunn:
The scholarship itself is an amazing opportunity for any students. It's tuition, books; it's a computer, travel to conferences, plus a stipend and for any student. If they were to get that scholarship, it's really going to set them up nationally for employment after the DoD part of that scholarship. If you get one year of the scholarship, you then are saying that you will work for the Department of Defense for one year after you graduate after that. Because it is a nationally known program and it's the Department of Defense. You would be incredibly marketable as a student at that point, because they, the employers, are going to know what you've gone through, the skills that you have, you know, and that you were good enough. That the Department of Defense has chosen you for this, and there would be so many opened doors from that, especially with that nationally recognized certification and the scholarship coming from the federal government. The sky would be the limit for anybody at that point.
DN:
Do we have to go, undergo a periodic review to maintain that status?
PD:
Yes, we do. There's a constant review back from the government where they want to see our materials, the labs we use, the syllabi. They want to see scores from the students. They need reports all the time and you know, if we come in and say we want to make changes to a course, we have to run those past the government first to make sure that we're still meeting their requirements for what they want to have in these courses 'cause, they're ensuring that somebody who comes out of our courses meets a certain level of skills and knowledge. So, we have to not only prove that we're meeting those that anything we change in the class, anything that we add, we have to prove again that this is contributing and not detracting from what they want to see. And it's a constant process that (that) we have to go through in the reviews with (with) the government and in maintaining that status.
DN:
And looking more closely at the market. Are these private firms that are providing this service to companies? Larger companies, do they have their own department? What now is that market that our students would be going out into?
PD:
The market is (is) honestly huge and it's all of the above. We've got consulting firms that come in looking for students. We're working with a lot of direct companies in the area looking for students. We've got very strong relationships with a lot of Michigan-based companies. And because of the academic excellence that we have that designation, we now have the connection with the government. So, there's honestly, it's wide open. It's all of the above. Everybody is looking for cyber. Whether they wanted to be in consulting and work for a consulting firm who is working with other companies to do their cybersecurity, or in house, or working with the government. The options are so varied that there's really no restrictions where students could go, whatever you know, catches their interest. Whatever piques their (their) interest, where they think this would be an awesome place for a (a) great career.
DN:
Well, it's definitely a positive sign that the university is certainly identified the need, filling the need, and doing what it can now to stay relevant and adapt to the growing and the changing need. And with that, congratulations as well for receiving this scholarship tied into the recognition nationally now for the program here at CMU and Paul Dunn, Faculty College of Business, working in this field of cyber security. Thank you very much for sharing the, the status, the progress, the future of the program, we appreciate having your time today.
PD:
Thank you for having me.
