Faculty and Staff News - [ Departmental Newsletter :: Spring 2008 ]
The new SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) lab was delivered to the Center for Computer Security Research (CCSR) in December 2007. This was funded by a grant from the National Security Agency and will facilitate the center's work on control system security. Apparently, this is the only such lab in the U.S. at an academic institution. The lab has real SCADA systems (SCADA PACs) controlling miniature devices so that faculty and students in the lab can operate with real software and observe the effects. The CCSR is directed by Dr. Rayford Vaughn.
SCADA Lab
Dr. Yoginder Dandass has accepted an invitation to go to the University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) in France as a visiting professor for the month of May so he can collaborate with Dr. Marc Daumas. Dr. Daumas and Dr. Dandass are working on using probabilistic methods for computer forensics and security.
Dr. Yoginder Dandass
Dr. T.J. Jankun-Kelly was one of this year's inductees into the Bagley College of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Teachers. The Academy honors faculty members who engage students in the learning process, motivate them to succeed, and use a variety of teaching methods. Dr. Jankun-Kelly was recognized for the Best Teaching Portfolio at the 2002 NSF Engineering Education Scholars Program while a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis. He has published two conference papers related to the teaching of graphics and visualization. He was a co-PI on an NSF grant that provided a display wall for the graphics lab in the CSE Department, something that has enhanced the learning experiences of his students.
Dr. T.J. Jankun-Kelly
Russ Ward, assistant systems administrator for the department, has recently completed the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) Certified Forensics Analyst certification from the SANS Institute. As an affiliate of SANS, GIAC offers certification to IT security professionals in a number of key areas within computer, network, and software security. According to the GIAC web site, Certified Forensics Analysts "have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to handle advanced incident handling scenarios, conduct formal incident investigations, and carry out forensic investigation of networks and hosts."
Russ Ward
Dr. Rayford Vaughn was recognized in February as MSU's nominee for the state's annual HEADWAE award. HEADWARE (Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence) was established in 1987 to honor academically talented students and faculty members of Mississippi's higher education institutions who have made outstanding contributions in promoting academic excellence. The Appreciation Day, hosted by the Legislature each February in Jackson, is the Legislature's way of saying "thank you" to these students and faculty for their commitment to the future of Mississippi. An outstanding student and faculty member from each of Mississippi's 36 public and private universities and colleges received special recognition from the Mississippi Legislature on February 19, 2008, during the 21st Annual HEADWAE program.
Dr. Rayford Vaughn
In the Fall 2008 semester, MSU will offer some one-hour seminars for first-year students in a new program modeled after successful programs at other universities such as the University of North Carolina, the University of Georgia, Penn State, and Dartmouth. These seminars, offered under the direction of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), are intended to allow first-year students an opportunity to quickly connect with the university and take specialized courses in particular areas of interest. Faculty members from across the campus were invited by the CTL to submit proposals for seminars. One of our instructors, Mr. Joe Crumpton, was among those whose proposals were selected. Mr. Crumpton will be offering a seminar on Digital Image Manipulation. This course will explore the basics of computer programming using the manipulation of digital images and photographs as the application domain. Students will write programs in Python to change the colors in images, combine images, and create short animations. This summer, Mr. Crumpton will attend a workshop on Media Computation at Georgia Tech. This workshop, sponsored by an NSF grant, will introduce faculty to teaching with the Media Computation approach, including an introduction to computing in Python and Java.
Mr. Joe Crumpton
Dr. Rayford Vaughn was successful in writing a proposal that resulted in MSU being named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research (CAE-R) in April, making it among the first group of universities in the country to receive this designation from the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The universities will be recognized at a ceremony in June in Dallas, Texas. This 5-year designation is an addition to NSA's program that recognizes universities as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE), a designation that MSU has held continuously for a number of years. The CAE-R program recognizes universities that integrate research activities into the curriculum and the classroom. They must already hold the CAE designation or be able to demonstrate that they meet the criteria. They must also have appropriate levels of graduate student production and research funding in the information assurance area.
Dr. Rayford Vaughn
Ms. Amy Tuck, Special Assistant to the President at MSU, visited the CSE Department in April for a briefing on the Forensics Training Center and other work related to computer security. Ms. Tuck, former Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, is learning more about outreach activities on the campus so that she can help to strengthen and promote them.
Dr. Julia Hodges, Dr. David Dampier, Ms. Amy Tuck, Dr. Rayford Vaughn
