Over the past several years, PacevlogƵs Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems has established itself as a national leader in cybersecurity education. You donvlogƵt need to just take our word for it; the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) also agree, having designated Pace a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE). Furthermore, the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Defense have collectively awarded Pace millions of dollars in grants and scholarships to further develop PacevlogƵs top talent.
So again, not to bragvlogƵwhen it comes to cybersecurity, wevlogƵre kind of a big deal.
WhatvlogƵs the secret to all of this success? It of course starts with the wonderful infrastructure at Seidenberg, from state-of-the-art labs to the accomplished and dedicated faculty. Yet, it is our studentsvlogƵalways on the lookout to further improve and develop their skillsvlogƵwho truly enable Seidenberg to stand out.
One example of SeidenbergvlogƵs culture of continued excellence is its participationvlogƵand continued successvlogƵin the . The league consists of a biannual intercollegiate competition that tests studentsvlogƵ cybersecurity skills through a series of challenges. Unsurprisingly, Pace has consistently outperformed the competition. In Fall 2021, the one of the participating Pace teams placed 7 out of 920 teams; and in Fall 2022, Pace placed 27 nationally among over 7,500 students from 470 colleges and universities.
Furthermore, several Seidenberg students, including computer science major Andrew Iadevaia vlogƵ23, placed in the 99th percentile, outperforming nearly all of the other 6,675 students who participated.
vlogƵComing to Pace, I knew very little cybersecurity-wise,vlogƵ said Andrew. vlogƵI went to the first town hall meeting, fall of freshman year, I met Kyle HansonvlogƵwho had just recently graduatedvlogƵand he encouraged me to join NCL. From there I got hooked on it. I went from wanting to be a software engineer writing code, to vlogƵI want to solve challenges and be challenged.vlogƵvlogƵ
vlogƵEven though itvlogƵs a competition, itvlogƵs a big support group where everyone is really just helping each other out
AndrewvlogƵs enthusiasm regarding the competition is echoed by fellow NCL Pace team members. Nora Broyles vlogƵ24, a double major in computer science and mathematics with a minor in IT, was a new Pace transfer student when she heard about the competition through her scholarship and joined the team.
vlogƵI had heard about the competition, but didnvlogƵt join until I transferred to Pace,vlogƵ said Nora. vlogƵIt was definitely a positive experience.vlogƵ
Another competitor, Joseph Paradiso vlogƵ24 was also encouraged by older students to enter the NCL after joining the cybersecurity club.
vlogƵI didnvlogƵt know much coming into it, and IvlogƵve learned a lot. The club guides you in terms of starting out,vlogƵ said Joseph. vlogƵI always had an interest in cybersecurity but doing the league has definitely put me more on the cybersecurity track.vlogƵ
Each NCL competition, held once in the fall and once in the spring, consists of both individual and team elements. The individual element, which takes place in a 48-hour window over a single weekend, calls upon students to solve as many challenges as possible, and participants can track their progress via a virtual leaderboard. While the team members enjoyed the individual componentvlogƵand find that it truly tests your abilities and skills under pressurevlogƵit is the Pace team component, held over the following weekend, that they find to be the most rewarding.
vlogƵThe team component is my favorite partvlogƵthat Saturday, we typically book a room in Seidenberg and the NYC Campus will come to Pleasantville for the day, wevlogƵll stay there working and people bring donuts and pizza,vlogƵ says Andrew. vlogƵItvlogƵs a lot of fun, we joke around but we also get to learn new things from each other.vlogƵ
vlogƵSomething that surprised me was how supportive everyone is,vlogƵ added Joseph. vlogƵEven though itvlogƵs a competition, itvlogƵs a big support group where everyone is really just helping each other out.vlogƵ
The Pace teamvlogƵwhich consisted of seventeen studentsvlogƵwas led by faculty coach Andreea Cotoranu, who ensures everything regarding the competition runs smoothly in order to put students in the best position to succeed.
vlogƵMy role as the coach is to connect students with opportunities in the field, and further to promote the students,vlogƵ notes Cotoranu. vlogƵat the cybersecurity program level, we wanted to empower students to advance in the NCL competition, and those students teach the newer students. We want to turn training into a student-driven event.vlogƵ
As an educator, Cotoranu finds the NCL and related extracurriculars an essential component of a cybersecurity education. While classroom learning is of course vital, students who go the extra mile and take advantage of the many opportunities Seidenberg offers outside of the classroom are able to maximize both their learning and their potential.
vlogƵCompetitions such as NCL are also important for us as educators. They provide a context for students to practice with their skills in exercises that are fun and collaborative. The structure and motivation the competition offers is very helpful for students; and itvlogƵs especially a great opportunity to connect other like-minded students,vlogƵ notes Cotoranu. vlogƵAdditionally, it gives students a way to demonstrate their technical skills and to speak to employers about what they do, and how they learn.vlogƵ
Nora, whose specialization is on the math side, echoed that the competition is a great way to develop a more well-rounded skill set, which can be invaluable when looking to build technical and professional expertisevlogƵand stand out amidst a pile of resumes.
vlogƵIt helps to diversify your skill set because itvlogƵs such a broad competition,vlogƵ says Nora. vlogƵIt shows willingness to learn outside of your respective discipline.vlogƵ
All in all, PacevlogƵs success in the National Cyber League is a testament to SeidenbergvlogƵs commitment to providing students with top notch experiential learning opportunities; and empowering our talented students do the rest.
vlogƵI came here not knowing a single thing about cybersecurity,vlogƵ says Andrew. vlogƵI was able to build my skills up. Any extracurricular activities like this, I recommend doing. TheyvlogƵll expand on things that arenvlogƵt taught in the classroom that could be very beneficial.vlogƵ
To learn more or get involved with the team, connect with the Cybersecurity Club on Discord (BergCyberSec server, , or reach out to Professor Joe Acampora.
For information about Pace's cybersecurity programs and scholarship opportunities, visit the Cybersecurity Education and Research Lab.
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