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2025

News
Friday, December 12, 2025

2025 INI Practicum Showcase Celebrates Student Successes

On Wednesday, December 3, students at Â鶹¹ÙÍø in Silicon Valley (Â鶹¹ÙÍø-SV) celebrated the completion of their Information Networking Institute (INI) Practicum projects. The Practicum Showcase and Networking Reception is held at the end of the semester at Â鶹¹ÙÍø-SV after students conclude a semester-long project sponsored by major companies, government agencies, nonprofits and startups from across the country.
Tuesday, December 09, 2025

How INI Students Develop the Knowledge and Skills to Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market

Securing a full-time role after graduation is one of the most challenging aspects of transitioning from being a graduate student to an INI alum. To excel within the competitive job market and ever-evolving technological landscape, Information Networking Institute (INI) students work hard to stand out.
Thursday, November 20, 2025

Armed with Technical Entrepreneurship Experience, INI TECH Fellows Look to Their Futures

The first cohort of our Technical Entrepreneur Coaching Hub (TECH) Fellowship is finishing the final component of their experience: completing an Information Networking Institute (INI) Practicum project. As they prepare for graduation and their next steps, the inaugural cohort is reflecting on the lessons they’ve learned about technical entrepreneurship through the program.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025

INI Alumni Tyelisa Shields and Samantha Allen Honored at Â鶹¹ÙÍø Alumni Awards

Two Information Networking Institute (INI) alumni were selected to join this year’s cohort of Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) Alumni Awards honorees: Tyelisa Shields received the Alumni Service award and Samantha Allen received the Recent Alumni Service Award.
Friday, October 24, 2025

Entrepreneur and INI Alum Karthik Suresh Sells Two Artificial Intelligence Startups

M.S. in Information Networking (MSIN) alum Karthik Suresh has been busy. Last year, his startup Ignition had raised $8 million in funding, and now, that company and another of his startups, DoubleO.ai, have been sold, this one to ZoomInfo. Currently, Suresh is a Senior Product Director at ZoomInfo, working to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their products.
Friday, October 24, 2025

2025 Student Internship Spotlight

Students from each of our five programs have the opportunity to take part in a summer internship with top companies, government agencies, research firms and startups. These internships give our students a chance to utilize the skills and lessons from their classes in real-world settings.
Thursday, October 16, 2025

INI Faculty Share Cybersecurity Insights In Honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an acknowledgement of the ever-present significance of cybersecurity in the United States. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has chosen “Building a Cyber Strong America” as the theme for 2025, underscoring the importance of cybersecurity for not only national security efforts but also for businesses, state and local governments and individuals.
Thursday, September 25, 2025

Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis Secures $1 Million NSF Award for CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program

Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) is proud to announce a $1 million renewal of the National Science Foundation (NSF) CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program. Led by principal investigator and INI Director Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis, the SFS program at Â鶹¹ÙÍø (SFS@Â鶹¹ÙÍø) supports a select cohort of graduate security students to prepare for careers in federal service.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Taha Khan and Building the System Development Mindset

Associate Teaching Professor Taha Khan is the latest addition to the Information Networking Institute (INI) faculty. Drawing from his interest in cybercrime, usable security and online censorship, Khan is thrilled to be guiding the next generation of cybersecurity experts through courses that build fundamental knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving.
Friday, August 15, 2025

INI Students and Alumni Propel Carnegie Mellon’s Hacking Team To Fourth Consecutive Win at DEF CON Capture-the-Flag Competition

For the fourth year in a row, the premier Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) hacking team, Plaid Parliament of Pwning (PPP), has claimed the top spot at this year’s DEF CON Capture-the-Flag (CTF) competition. This marks their ninth victory in 13 years. Information Networking Institute (INI) students and alumni have been prominent members of PPP and have been integral to the team’s success throughout out the years.
Thursday, July 24, 2025

INI Alum Harshvardhan Chunawala Earns Prestigious Amazon Web Service Golden Jacket

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Golden Jacket is one of the most selective recognitions in the global cloud computing ecosystem, awarded to people who have completed all active AWS certifications while demonstrating sustained technical depth, industry leadership and real-world impact. Harshvardhan Chunawala, engineering technologist, cybersecurity researcher and alum of the Information Networking Institute (INI), joined this prestigious group of roughly 100 at the first-ever public award ceremony during the AWS Summit 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Monday, June 09, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Mohamed Farag and Exploring Generative AI with a Business Mindset

Assistant Teaching Professor Mohamed Farag builds his curriculum around how students can apply what they see in the classroom to the real world. Farag sees his role as an educator as a balance of knowledge of current research, current business practices and the latest teaching methodology to prepare students for what lies after graduation.
Faculty Spotlight: Patrick Tague, a Lifelong Learner Preparing the Next Generation of Security Experts
Monday, June 02, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Patrick Tague, a Lifelong Learner Preparing the Next Generation of Security Experts

Patrick Tague has been with Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) for 16 years and officially joined the Information Networking Institute (INI) in 2020. Currently, Tague is one of the INI faculty at Â鶹¹ÙÍø in Silicon Valley (Â鶹¹ÙÍø-SV). Tague has been a lifelong learner and teacher who found his passion early and has followed it his whole career. As an (INI) Associate Teaching Professor, Tague works in the intersection of computer systems and information security, Tague brings hands-on experience and real-world examples to the classroom to give his students the practical tools they can use in the classroom and beyond.
Honoring 35th Graduating Class, 2025 INI Diploma Ceremony Celebrates the Invaluable Support of Community
Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Honoring 35th Graduating Class, 2025 INI Diploma Ceremony Celebrates the Invaluable Support of Community

Over the past 35 years, the Information Networking Institute (INI) has been preparing students with the deep technical knowledge and innovative techniques to join the ever-evolving fields of cybersecurity, information networking, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mobile and IoT. This year, a hushed crowd gathered at Rodef Shalom to celebrate the achievements of our 35th graduating class. The Information Networking Institute (INI) diploma ceremony was held on Sunday, May 11. 120 students walked across the stage and joined nearly 3,000 alumni in our ever-growing, global community.
INI Students Explore Topics Ranging from Cybersecurity Education to Network Traffic Management in Master’s Thesis Projects
Tuesday, May 27, 2025

INI Students Explore Topics Ranging from Cybersecurity Education to Network Traffic Management in Master’s Thesis Projects

When prospective students apply to the Information Networking Institute (INI), they are able to select between two different study options, Standard and Advanced. Students who choose Advanced can select between three options to further customize their INI experience. Students can choose either to complete a master’s thesis, a development-based project or an area of concentration. For students interested in pursuing rigorous academic research, completing a master’s thesis can produce publishable work and demonstrate advanced technical knowledge. This year, 12 graduating students successfully defended a master’s thesis, representing three degree programs, including M.S. in Information Networking (MSIN), M.S. in Information Security (MSIS) and M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Engineering – Information Security (MSIAE-IS). Topics range from cloud-based malware protection and cybersecurity education to enhancing software and Machine Learning (ML) integration and improving network traffic management methods.
Recognizing Over Two Decades of Impact, INI Director Dr. Dena Hartios Tsamitis Receives Robert E. Doherty Award for Substantial and Sustained Contributions to Education
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Recognizing Over Two Decades of Impact, INI Director Dr. Dena Hartios Tsamitis Receives Robert E. Doherty Award for Substantial and Sustained Contributions to Education

In a ceremony in the Rangos Ballroom on April 24, Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) faculty, staff and friends gathered to honor the impact of exemplary members of the community at the annual Celebration of Education Awards. In her opening remarks, Kate Barraclough, vice provost for education, spoke on the impact of faculty, staff and graduate students on education at Â鶹¹ÙÍø and acknowledged past awardees who were in attendance. Next, Jim Garrett, the provost and chief academic officer, presented awards to graduate students and instructors for their teaching. Finally, Farnam Jahanian, President and Henry L. Hillman President's Chair, took the stage to present university awards.
At RSA, INI Students Share Their Work on Cloud-Based Malware and Cybersecurity Education
Thursday, May 08, 2025

At RSA, INI Students Share Their Work on Cloud-Based Malware and Cybersecurity Education

Every year, the Information Networking Institute (INI) selects two students to attend the RSA Conference as Security Scholars. This year, six students took the trek to San Francisco, California, to attend the 2025 RSA Conference. The RSA Conference is a prominent gathering for the global cybersecurity community. Over the course of four days at the end of April, cybersecurity experts gathered to connect and share knowledge. This chance to build professional relationships and learn the latest techniques in cybersecurity is invaluable for the next generation. That is why RSA hand-selects cybersecurity students to give them the unique opportunities to make connections at special events and present a poster of their work at the conference. Two INI students have received this honor to be RSAC Security Scholars, Rohil Chaudhry and Rohan Viswanathan. Both are M.S. in Information Security (MSIS) who will be 2025 graduates and they presented their work at the RSA Conference.
Carnegie Mellon Hacking Team Wins Fourth Consecutive MITRE eCTF
Tuesday, May 06, 2025

Carnegie Mellon Hacking Team Wins Fourth Consecutive MITRE eCTF

Once again, the Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) premier hacking team, the Plaid Parliament of Pwning (PPP), has taken home the gold at this year’s MITRE Embedded Capture-the-flag (eCTF) cybersecurity competition. This marks the fourth consecutive win for the team — a first for the competition. A team of 15 Â鶹¹ÙÍø students, including six from the Information Networking Institute (INI), were coached by a team of advisors that included INI Associate Teaching Professor Patrick Tague.
The INI Celebrates 35 Years of Community, Accomplishments and Impact
Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The INI Celebrates 35 Years of Community, Accomplishments and Impact

The Café Carnegie was buzzing with alumni, faculty, staff and campus partners during Carnegie Mellon’s Carnival weekend as the Information Networking Institute (INI) celebrated its 35th anniversary.
INI Diploma Ceremony Keynote Speaker is Second Scholarship for Service (SFS) Hall of Fame Awardee, Alum Elizabeth Schweinsberg
Wednesday, April 23, 2025

INI Diploma Ceremony Keynote Speaker is Second Scholarship for Service (SFS) Hall of Fame Awardee, Alum Elizabeth Schweinsberg

The Information Networking Institute (INI) will welcome alum Elizabeth Schweinsberg as the keynote speaker for its 2025 Diploma Ceremony. On May 11, during Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) Commencement Weekend, Schweinsberg will share her insights with the latest graduating class of INI students at Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh.
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Re-Designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity for Cyber Research through 2029 and Cyber Operations through 2030
Monday, April 21, 2025

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Re-Designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity for Cyber Research through 2029 and Cyber Operations through 2030

Under the leadership of Information Networking Institute (INI) Director Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis, with support from INI faculty members Dr. Patrick Tague and Dr. Hanan Hibshi, Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) has once again earned two national distinctions from the National Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C): Cyber Research (CAE-R) and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). This program, managed by the National Security Agency (NSA), recognizes colleges and universities that uphold the highest standards for cybersecurity education and academic excellence.
INI Students Grow Their Networks and Skills at Cybersecurity Conferences
Tuesday, April 08, 2025

INI Students Grow Their Networks and Skills at Cybersecurity Conferences

This spring, nine Information Networking Institute (INI) students made their way to two cybersecurity conferences in Dallas, Texas; the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) conference and the Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC) conference. The INI has been a regular sponsor of  WiCyS, the premier conference dedicated to advancing women in cybersecurity and MiC, an executive leadership conference for minority, women, and nonbinary professionals in cybersecurity, and provides scholarships for students to attend. 
Faculty Spotlight: Building a Secure and Ethical Future for AI with Michael Mattarock
Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Building a Secure and Ethical Future for AI with Michael Mattarock

We are proud to introduce the newest member of our faculty, Michael Mattarock. Just this week, Mattarock joined the Information Networking Institute (INI) as our new associate director and assistant teaching professor. This role works closely with the director helping to oversee academics and collaborating with colleagues across the university, in addition to teaching specific courses. Bringing a great deal of experience in national security, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, Mattarock will advocate, develop and expand our federally funded academic programs, cultivate relationships with government agencies and seek opportunities to secure funding.
INI Alumni Adam Cecchetti and Austin Fath Build an “Immune System for Cybersecurity” with AI Startup
Friday, March 14, 2025

INI Alumni Adam Cecchetti and Austin Fath Build an “Immune System for Cybersecurity” with AI Startup

The work of a security engineer is never done. Currently, there aren't enough people to fill those roles needed to keep applications safe. With the high demand of security engineers, the issue becomes, how can a small team fulfill meet its security demands at scale? Information Networking Institute (INI) alumni Adam Cecchetti and Austin Fath are working towards a solution. After a successful round of funding resulting in $5.7 million, their startup is set to help ease the stress of security teams everywhere.
Faculty Spotlight: Quinn Jacobson and the Joy of Learning
Thursday, March 13, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Quinn Jacobson and the Joy of Learning

When Professor of the Practice Quinn Jacobson joined the Information Networking Institute (INI) faculty, he brought the knowledge and experience of 25 years in the technology industry with leadership roles in established technology companies and startups. He has worked on cutting-edge technology, leading teams in the hundreds, while building and maintaining a robust network of innovators. Based at Â鶹¹ÙÍø in Silicon Valley (Â鶹¹ÙÍø-SV), Jacobson brings his expertise to the INI Practicum course, where students gain real-world experience by working on sponsored projects with professionals and the Technical Entrepreneur Coaching Hub (TECH) Fellowship which aims to prepare the next generation of technical entrepreneurs.
With Special Topics Course, the INI Brings Artificial Intelligence Ethics into Focus
Tuesday, February 18, 2025

With Special Topics Course, the INI Brings Artificial Intelligence Ethics into Focus

Last fall, Adjunct Professor Lake Dai brought together a diverse group of industry, policy, health and research experts to discuss the ethical implications of AI with students. The goal of this special topics course was to foster a healthy, interdisciplinary discourse about AI and its broader impact on society and people across the globe.
Faculty Spotlight: Hanan Hibshi and the Impact of Cybersecurity
Friday, January 31, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Hanan Hibshi and the Impact of Cybersecurity

Hanan Hibshi, an assistant teaching professor at the Information Networking Institute (INI), is unique among the faculty. She is the only faculty member to have first-hand experience of the INI as a student. Hibshi has been a member of the Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) community since her time as a master’s student, when she joined the INI to study information security. She continued her studies at Â鶹¹ÙÍø to pursue research in usable security before returning to the INI as a member of the teaching faculty.  With her background as an INI alum, in addition to experience both in industry and research, Hanan brings her excitement for knowledge into the classroom, sharing examples from her studies and career to mentor her students.
Second Annual INI Alum Inducted into Scholarship for Service Hall of Fame
Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Second Annual INI Alum Inducted into Scholarship for Service Hall of Fame

The Scholarship for Service (SFS) Hall of Fame awards one honoree each year to celebrate their contributions to national security through federal service and industry leadership. The 2025 honoree, Elizabeth Schweinsberg, graduated in 2005 with an M.S. in Information Security Technology and Management, now the M.S. in Information Security (MSIS), and was a recipient of the National Science Foundation CyberCorps SFS, a competitive federal scholarship that supports students pursuing degrees in security.
2024 Practicum Teams Share Their Success at the INI Practicum Showcase in Silicon Valley
Monday, January 06, 2025

2024 Practicum Teams Share Their Success at the INI Practicum Showcase in Silicon Valley

Students, alumni and industry professionals gathered last week at Â鶹¹ÙÍø in Silicon Valley (Â鶹¹ÙÍø-SV) for the annual Practicum Showcase, an event that celebrates the students’ completion of semester-long projects sponsored by tech companies, government agencies, nonprofits and academic institutions. For students in the bicoastal programs at the Information Networking Institute (INI), Practicum is a key feature of their degree that integrates the knowledge and skills they have built through coursework with an opportunity to contribute to real-world solutions.
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