Securing the Future: Cyber Minds of PennWest

October is Cybersecurity Month, and we’re diving deep into the world of digital defense.In a world where every click counts, who’s keeping our digital lives safe? In today’s episode, we go beyond the firewalls and into the lives of the people who protect them. You’ll hear from PennWest students, faculty and alumni who share what drew them to the field of cybersecurity – from early sparks of curiosity to the real-world impact of their work today.Today's guests include:Dr. Raymond Hsieh is a professor of Criminal Justice at PennWest California. From cracking cybercrime cases to mentoring future forensic experts, Dr. Hsieh bridges academia and real-world investigations. Shenae Coote is a dual major in Psychology and Criminal Justice with concentrations in Forensic Investigation and Cyber Forensics at PennWest California. Lauren Sims, a native of Fredericktown, PA, is a criminal justice major at PennWest California, concentrating in cyber forensics and forensic investigation, with a minor in computer information systems. Chris Crafford is an international student from Cape Town, South Africa, who began his PennWest journey in 2019. Graduating cum laude in Criminal Justice with a focus in cyber forensics, Chris served as a Community Assistant and Tour Guide. Mike Conley is the Chief Information Security Officer for Industrial Scientific in Pittsburgh and Intelex Technologies in Toronto – both part of Fortive Corporation. Named 2023 Pittsburgh CISO of the Year, Mike’s journey began at PennWest California, where he earned his degree in Applied Computer Science.Dax Kress is a senior at PennWest California majoring in Computer Information Systems. Dax recently interned at Industrial Scientific as an Information Security Intern and is pursuing a career in database analysis and cybersecurity.