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Cybersecurity Starts Here: MGA Hosts 9th Annual Academic Cybersecurity SeminarMiddle Georgia State University brings tog...
10/14/2026

Cybersecurity Starts Here: MGA Hosts 9th Annual Academic Cybersecurity Seminar

Middle Georgia State University brings together students, educators, and industry leaders to explore emerging threats, artificial intelligence, and the future of cybersecurity.

Middle Georgia State University hosted its 9th Annual Academic Cybersecurity Seminar (ACS) on October 13, 2026, at the Macon Campus, bringing together students, faculty, cybersecurity professionals, and community partners for a day of learning, collaboration, and professional engagement.

This year's theme, “Securing What Comes Next: AI, Threats, Workforce, and Resilience,” highlighted the evolving challenges facing cybersecurity professionals and the importance of preparing a skilled, adaptable workforce.

The seminar featured speakers representing military leadership, government agencies, law enforcement, and the technology industry. Presentations explored artificial intelligence, emerging cyber threats, digital forensics, critical infrastructure protection, and the growing importance of organizational resilience.

Beyond the presentations, the event provided valuable opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges, engage with experienced professionals, and explore emerging career opportunities.

Building the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals

At MGA, cybersecurity education extends beyond traditional coursework. Through applied learning, student organizations such as CyberKnights, cybersecurity competitions, faculty mentorship, and industry engagement, students have opportunities to strengthen technical skills, develop professional relationships, and prepare for careers in an increasingly important field.

The annual Academic Cybersecurity Seminar reflects MGA's commitment to connecting academic education with industry needs while promoting collaboration across disciplines and professional communities.

As cybersecurity continues to influence nearly every industry, events like ACS reinforce the importance of developing professionals who possess not only technical expertise but also the critical thinking, adaptability, and collaborative skills needed to address tomorrow's challenges.

The future of cybersecurity depends on the talent we develop today, and Middle Georgia State University is helping prepare that future.

To learn more about computing programs and opportunities at MGA, visit www.mga.edu/computing

Department of IT faculty, Dr. Alan Stines, Professor Tina Ashford, and Dr. Shaun Hope, presented at the Georgia State Re...
10/07/2026

Department of IT faculty, Dr. Alan Stines, Professor Tina Ashford, and Dr. Shaun Hope, presented at the Georgia State Retirees Association (GSRA) Annual Meeting on 10/5 and 10/6.

They hosted an AI & Cybersecurity breakout session, where they demystified modern online threats and broke down how to easily secure personal data. They covered:

• How to spot AI-driven voice and text fraud targeting seniors
• Simple habits to completely lock down your bank accounts
• Practical strategies to shield your identity from sophisticated scams

AWITCS Hosts "Challenge Accepted: Brooke Gettys Inspires Women in Cybersecurity"On October 1, the Association of Women i...
10/07/2026

AWITCS Hosts "Challenge Accepted: Brooke Gettys Inspires Women in Cybersecurity"

On October 1, the Association of Women in Information Technology & Computing Sciences (AWITCS) at Middle Georgia State University celebrated Women in Cybersecurity with a special presentation from our own Brooke Gettys, current Secretary of AWITCS.

Brooke is a graduate student studying Cybersecurity at MGA and has been an active leader in both AWITCS and CyberKnights. During her presentation, she encouraged students to challenge themselves beyond the classroom by participating in cybersecurity competitions such as Capture the Flag (CTF) events, the National Cyber League (NCL), hacking challenges, and other nationally sponsored competitions throughout their college careers.

Brooke shared how these experiences pushed her outside of her comfort zone and introduced her to many of the skills, tools, and problem-solving approaches she expects to encounter throughout her future career in cybersecurity.

Beyond competing, Brooke has become an important mentor to fellow AWITCS members, encouraging other women in technology to build confidence, take on difficult challenges, and make their voices heard in a traditionally male-dominated field. In Brooke’s characteristically spirited words, that sometimes means being willing to “challenge the patriarchy” — or, perhaps more simply, challenge expectations and make your place in technology impossible to overlook.

We are proud to have student leaders like Brooke who are willing to share their experiences, mentor others, and encourage the next generation of women in IT and cybersecurity.

10/06/2026

On Monday, September 28th, Information Technology Department Chair Professor Jed Edge, Program Coordinator Brooke Ingram, and Assistant Professor Dr. Valerie Mercer visited Warner Robins Air Force Base to share information about Middle Georgia State University’s graduate Information Technology programs with WRAFB personnel.

The School of Computing group was escorted by Bob Hermann, Executive Director of the Middle Georgia STEM Alliance, and Dr. Doug Rizer, Director of Campus and Community Engagement for the Warner Robins Campus.

The visit also provided an opportunity to reconnect with MGA alumni working on the base. A special thank you to Dr. Manny Suarez and Dr. Christa Self, both DSIT alumni, for stopping by and supporting the outreach effort.

Learn more about MGA’s Master of Science in Information Technology program:
https://www.mga.edu/computing/graduate-programs/index.php

Learn more about the Doctor of Science in Information Technology program:
https://www.mga.edu/graduate-school/programs/information-technology-ds.php

Dr. Abby Noble, a math professor in the School of Computing, lectures during MGA’s Annual Faculty Development Day (Macon...
10/05/2026

Dr. Abby Noble, a math professor in the School of Computing, lectures during MGA’s Annual Faculty Development Day (Macon) about alternative grading methods for student success and retention Friday morning, September 25, 2026.

Dr. Valerie Mercer, School of Computing assistant professor, lectures to faculty about how to create Active Learning in ...
09/25/2026

Dr. Valerie Mercer, School of Computing assistant professor, lectures to faculty about how to create Active Learning in Asynchronous Environments for their classes to create student engagement and excitement! The professor spoke during MGA’s Annual Faculty Development Day on the Macon campus.

Join us for the 9th Annual Academic Cybersecurity Seminar – October 13Join Middle Georgia State University for the 9th A...
09/24/2026

Join us for the 9th Annual Academic Cybersecurity Seminar – October 13

Join Middle Georgia State University for the 9th Annual Academic Cybersecurity Seminar on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Robert F. Hatcher Sr. Conference Center on MGA’s Macon Campus.

This year’s theme, “Securing What Comes Next: AI, Threats, Workforce, and Resilience,” will bring together students, educators, professionals, and industry leaders for timely discussions on the future of cybersecurity. Attendees will hear from expert speakers, explore emerging issues in AI and cyber defense, and connect with Georgia’s growing cybersecurity community.

Students are encouraged to dress professionally for this event, as it is a valuable opportunity to network with industry professionals, employers, and cybersecurity leaders.

Register today and be part of the conversation.

Register to Attend Here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/mC21TRAdsL

More Information: https://www.mga.edu/computing/information-technology/academic-cybersecurity-seminar/index.php

Have you ever thought about completing a Doctoral degree in IT? We will host an information session for the DSIT program...
09/21/2026

Have you ever thought about completing a Doctoral degree in IT? We will host an information session for the DSIT program, tomorrow, Sept 22nd at 5:30 pm via Teams.

Join us!
https://tinyurl.com/45dbkpr4

Join us for our next virtual Coffeehouse Speaker Series guest, Adam Ham!Beyond the Ticket Queue: Strategic Leadership an...
09/11/2026

Join us for our next virtual Coffeehouse Speaker Series guest, Adam Ham!

Beyond the Ticket Queue: Strategic Leadership and Team Building

Stop reacting to your inbox and start building your career. When you enter the IT industry, it is easy to get buried in an endless pile of help desk tickets and flooded email threads. Most tech professionals stay trapped in this reactive survival mode. They constantly put out fires instead of focusing on what actually drives results. Led by Adam Ham, Chief Technology Officer at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, this dynamic one-hour session reveals how to break out of the day-to-day chaos and step into high-impact IT roles.

In this talk, Adam brings together the core concepts of high-level IT ex*****on and organizational leadership. You will learn how to use the Urgent vs. Important matrix to filter out daily noise and prioritize high-value projects. Building on that foundation, Adam will walk through the essential mechanics of team leadership, including effective delegation, mastering the "trust but verify" principle, and actively building up new leaders around you.

Packed with real-world examples from Adam’s 22-year journey from database administrator to CTO, this presentation connects theory directly to field experience. Whether you are preparing for your first internship or aiming for a future executive role, you will walk away with practical tools to rise above operational chaos, lead effectively, and build a lasting career.

September 15th @ 12pm
Join via Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/27256849280248?p=8J7qQhGaZny2VyvCas

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100 University Parkway
Macon, GA
31206

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

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