Michael Whitman to lead Institute for Cybersecurity Workforce Development
Kennesaw State professor brings wealth of information security expertise
KENNESAW, Ga.
(Aug 15, 2019) — Kennesaw State University has selected Michael Whitman, professor of information security and assurance, to serve as executive director
of the Institute for Cybersecurity Workforce Development (ICWD), home to the University’s
top-ranked online cybersecurity degree.
Whitman is the ICWD’s first executive director. His role involves managing the interdisciplinary
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program and developing additional cybersecurity degrees, certificates and professional
education opportunities.
He brings more than 20 years of experience teaching information security courses.
A distinguished researcher and author, Whitman has written 10 widely used textbooks
and published information systems research in top academic journals. He also is the
executive director of the Center for Information Security Education (CISE), which supports cybersecurity education initiatives across the region.
“Mike Whitman has years of experience developing and leading cybersecurity education,”
said Jon Preston, dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering, who was part of the committee that appointed Whitman. “Additionally, he has a strong
ability to work with all students, faculty and staff within the contributing colleges
to make the Institute successful.”
Kennesaw State formed the ICWD in 2017 as part of a statewide initiative to encourage
businesses and governments to create cybersecurity jobs in Georgia. Answering the
University System of Georgia’s call for a comprehensive, online cybersecurity degree,
the ICWD established Kennesaw State’s B.S. in Cybersecurity the same year.
Offered exclusively online through the USG’s eMajor platform, the B.S. in Cybersecurity
is a collaboration between the Michael J. Coles College of Business, the College of Computing and Software Engineering, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The ICWD oversees the program by scheduling the courses, coordinating with the academic
departments on faculty schedules and representing the program inside and outside the
University.
Whitman was one of the initial organizers of the ICWD as well as a key architect of
the cybersecurity degree program. As ICWD’s executive director, one of his focuses
will be on managing the degree’s rapid growth.
“Enrollment already is far ahead of what we expected,” Whitman said. “At the end of
year one, we already were at year three enrollment projections. The short-term tactical
challenges will be to manage that growth.”
Program enrollment currently sits at more than 430 students, Whitman said, adding
that Kennesaw State plans to hire additional cybersecurity faculty in the Information Technology and Information Systems departments.
Under Whitman’s leadership, the ICWD also will assume management of several key initiatives
previously conducted by the CISE, including organizing the annual Conference on Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice; hosting the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition; and publishing the Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice.
“This should enhance those opportunities, as the events will now be seen as much more
interdisciplinary in nature,” Whitman said. “We hope to attract more faculty and student
interest because they will see that these activities are not just part of the Coles
College of Business.”
Whitman said the ICWD’s interdisciplinary focus is one of the key things that attracted
him to the position. The program requires students to complete IT courses offered
by the CCSE and Information Security and Assurance courses through the Coles College,
while offering criminal justice electives in cybercrime through the CHSS.
“It’s unique in that it really brings together several disciplines,” Whitman said.
“Some computer-related, some not. That really allows students to tailor their degree
program to their personal interests and career preferences.”
The B.S. in Cybersecurity is one of three cybersecurity-focused degrees offered by
Kennesaw State, along with the more managerial Bachelor of Business Administration
in Information Security and Assurance through the Coles College and the Bachelor of
Science in Information Technology through theCollege of Computing and Software Engineering.
All three degrees have helped KSU earn a reputation for producing skilled information
security graduates.
CyberDegrees.org ranked Kennesaw State first in its 2019 list of the top cybersecurity degrees, while Military Timesranked the University among the top 10 best cybersecurity programs
for veterans. Kennesaw State is also recognized by the National Security Agency and
the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in
Information Assurance/Cybersecurity for the years 2015-2021.
Whitman earned a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Auburn University’s
Harbert College of Business and previously served in the U.S. Army as an officer in
the 2nd Armored Cavalry with duties as an automated data processing system security
officer.
— Patrick Harbin
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
