The Future of Cybersecruity At Rowan

Cybersecurity is growing rapidly at Rowan University. With the Cybersecruity club hitting competition after competition, and the enrollment in the M.S in Cyber skyrocketing, we sat down with Professor Fred Stinchcombe to learn more about the future of cyber at Rowan. 

Stinchcombe is the program coordinator for the masters in cyber, and a core driver in academic cybersecurity development. He was one of the main curriculum developers for the master’s program. The master’s program is as popular as it is in part because of Stinchcombe’s dedication to accessibility. The program can be taken by anyone at any level, regardless of background or previous experience; there’s no barriers. On top of that, the program is fully online, working with every student’s schedule. 

But what’s really propelling the Rowan cyber community to greater heights is the Cybersecurity Club. “The cyberclub is doing some really good work by having student-led workshops and getting speakers from varied backgrounds,” says Stinchcombe.

As great as things are with cyber now, Stinchcombe is always aiming for bigger and better. On the academic side of things, Stinchcombe is currently rehauling the masters program. . “We want to embed material that allows students to go for certain certifications, like Secruity+, Network+, PenTest+, that kind of thing,” states Stinchcombe.

He’s also hoping to partner up with ISC2, a consortium promoting the gold standard for cybersecurity certifications, such as CISSP. With ISC2, faculty can be trained to teach its material, opening doors to more opportunities for students. 

Stinchcombe has equally high hopes for the Cyber club. “I’d like to see them do better in the competitions that we’re a part of, and they’re already on that track,” says Stinchcombe. “They’re running sessions during competition, learning different strategies, anything that builds a knowledge base. Doing competitions is huge, as it gives you great experience. You can bounce ideas off of teammates, and learn more from people who might be better at you in your chosen league. I want students to make a name for themselves in the National Cyber League.” 

Stinchcombe also aims to expand the cyber community’s diversity, with specific goals to recruit more women. “I’d like to see the WICSYS chapter expand, like having them attend some conferences,” states Stinchcombe. “On the topic of conferences, setting up a booth at some of the big ones can help pitch Rowan Cyber to the wider world,” continues Stinchcombe. 

Rowan Cyber grows at a breakneck pace, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Stinchcombe’s biggest goal? Have Rowan be recognized as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA. This may seem like an imposing goal, but for the ambitious minds at the Rowan CS Department? That’s barely anything at all!