Rena Malai

IST professor sees empathy innovating tech

Rena Malai — Wed, 17 May 2023 13:44:51 +0000

IST professor sees empathy innovating tech Rena Malai Wed, 05/17/2023 - 09:44

In This Story

Blending empathy with technology has increasingly become a part of tech conversations, particularly when it comes to AI.

IST Assistant Professor Nora McDonald

George Mason University Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Assistant Professor Nora McDonald whole heartedly embraces the concept. She makes it a priority to help her students learn how to ask the right empathetic questions while teaching Human Computer Interaction (HCI), one of IST’s newest concentrations.

“I see it as my primary role to help students acquire the skills they need to think about how people use technology and apply an empathic approach to their work,” McDonald said.

Through McDonald’s undergraduate training as an English major, she has always liked exploring insights into humanity and what makes people tick. She has grown concerned over the years when it comes to how AI-driven technology is used, particularly when it comes to the privacy and well-being of vulnerable or marginalized populations, including youth.

“Research suggests that the more people use AI-driven social media, the more they will be pushed into the rabbit hole of scrolling. This can trigger depression, body dysmorphia, and isolation,” McDonald said. “One of the areas I am focused on is the impact of AI and social media use on youth well-being, sense of self, sense of agency, and overall health in general.”

A Philadelphia native, McDonald has been at Mason for about a year. She sees it as an exciting place for IST research and learning, with plenty of opportunities.

“Mason’s location is at the doorstep of so many industry partners,” McDonald said. “From government offices to nonprofits, IST is rapidly growing. There is so much opportunity here, and there is such enthusiasm from a diverse faculty for collaboration.”

McDonald’s current research projects focus on intersectional privacy and information seeking strategies of vulnerable and marginalized individuals in various contexts, including public technology resources like libraries and reproductive health. She also focuses on teens and AI and looks at ways to support a healthier engagement with technology.

“A theme of my work, believe it or not, is how marginalized and vulnerable groups turn to low or no technology strategies that are, for example, more practical and privacy protective,” she said.

Topics

teaching

Information Sciences and Technology Department

CEC faculty research

Cutting edge delivered with new IST concentrations

Rena Malai — Tue, 16 May 2023 15:32:17 +0000

Cutting edge delivered with new IST concentrations Rena Malai Tue, 05/16/2023 - 11:32

In This Story

Ioulia Rytikova

Nora McDonald

With two new recently added concentrations in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at George Mason University, graduate students have a cutting edge in machine learning and user experience (UX) design.

IST Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies Ioulia
Rytikova

The Machine Learning Engineering and Human Computer Interaction (with UX design) concentrations offer courses that help students gain competitive skills and adapt to an ever evolving technology landscape, according to Ioulia Rytikova, IST professor and associate chair for graduate studies.

“The Machine Learning Engineering concentration was added in fall 2022, and HCI will be available in fall 2023,” Rytikova said. “We are committed to an inclusive program where students receive the hands-on learning they need to be successful in their careers while being supported in their studies every step of the way.”

According to IST assistant professor Nora McDonald, the HCI concentration will be useful for students interested in designing and engineering, as it’s important to know how to gather human user data.

“As soon as they do HCI, it opens them up to possibilities and has a profound effect on how they see technology,” McDonald said. “This is crucial no matter what role they pursue.”

IST adjunct professor Aisha Sikder adds the entire world will be in front of students pursuing the concentration in machine learning.

“It’s not just that they will take a few courses here and there, but this

IST Adjunct Professor Aisha Sikder

concentration opens the doors for students in so many different directions,” Sikder said. “They will be prepared for roles in the machine learning, data science, and AI realm and beyond.”

The new concentrations are part of ongoing efforts by the department to encourage and welcome a diverse range of students, providing them with a curriculum that suits their lifestyle and opportunities to succeed.

“We understand potential students come from all types of backgrounds, needs, and requirements,” Rytikova said. “We are a dedicated team of faculty that make sure every student has the tools and means to get the most out of their education and succeed.”

IST Assistant Professor Nora McDonald

The two concentrations are a part of Mason’s Master of Science in applied information technology.

Topics

innovative classes

information sciences and technology

Award win for IT capstone students immersed in African American history

Rena Malai — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 16:55:51 +0000

Award win for IT capstone students immersed in African American history Rena Malai Wed, 11/09/2022 - 11:55

In This Story

John McLaughlin

It was an award win for a group of George Mason IT capstone alumni, as they were honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Fairfax County History Commission last weekend.

The team was presented with the award by Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly and Chairman Jeff McKay.

Roman Patrick, Akbar Suri, Brian Do, Steve Cheuko, Samuel Pitch, and Fernando Galarza collaborated together in Alpha Team 4 during their senior capstone project in the 2021-2022 academic year. With Suri as project lead, the team created a platform called the Fairfax County African American History Inventory database that includes physical sites, private records, collections, and more as it relates to African American culture and previous residents.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Fairfax County History Commission and the Center for Mason Legacies. The goal is to capture, communicate, and preserve the African American experience throughout Fairfax County’s history

The county took the project on as a major initiative last year. The committee for the database was formed in January 2021, and led by history commissioners Mary Lipsey and Phyllis Walker-Ford.

“I want to give a special shout out to history commissioners Mary Lipsey and Phyllis Walker Ford for their assistance and communication all year as well as Professor John McLaughlin for his guidance (during) our entire capstone course,” says Patrick.

The database is hosted by George Mason and is designed to be interactive, user-friendly, informative, and easily updated.

Topics

diversity

Stepping onto a different path

Rena Malai — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:51:18 +0000

Stepping onto a different path Rena Malai Mon, 06/13/2022 - 12:51

Britney Aiken, recent information technology grad, comes from a family where everyone works in healthcare.

Although she thought about following suit, Aiken knew she wanted a different path. She says she loved math in high school and wanted to do something in the field of engineering once she reached college. Her mom picked up on her daughter’s tech abilities early on, and Aiken attended Academies of Loudoun, a STEM program for high school students in Loudoun County, Va.

“As far as I can remember, I was always drawn to technology,” says Aiken. “I chose to pursue information technology in higher education because I wanted a well-rounded perspective. Computer science is a popular way to go, but IT covers everything- cloud computing, cybersecurity, computer networking, web development, programing, and more.”

Aiken says joining the Break Through Tech DC program at George Mason allowed her to be surrounded by like -minded people who are just as intrigued and interested in engineering as she is.

“As a Break Through Tech student peer leader and a Mason ambassador, people ask me about the difficulty level of engineering, is it too hard to do,” says Aiken. “The best thing to set yourself up for success is to join a community like Break Through Tech and talk with professors and advisors. Don’t be afraid to put your brand out there early.”

Setting a good example for future STEM grads is a motivating factor for Aiken, who will be working at Amazon full time after interning for the tech magnate last summer in Denver. She’s excited to be part of a change that will hopefully encourage more women into STEM careers.

“I took an engineering class in high school and I was the only girl,” says Aiken. “I want more women to join this field. There is nothing we can’t achieve.”

She may have broken the mold for one of her sisters, who might join sibling rank by also pursuing STEM.

“I feel like I’m definitely more aware now that other people are watching me, not in a bad way but it makes me want to set a good example in the way I interact with people and face challenges, whether it’s related to engineering or just life,” says Aiken. “I just want to set a good example for my sisters, and other students around me.”

About Break Through Tech 

Break Through Tech works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel more women and underrepresented communities into technology degrees and careers. BTT DC is the first cross-institutional collaboration, partnering with Mason and the University of Maryland. 

Topics

Break Through Tech

STEM

diversity

information technology

New Mason IT grad says ‘just go for it’

Rena Malai — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:59:42 +0000

New Mason IT grad says ‘just go for it’ Rena Malai Mon, 04/25/2022 - 15:59

It was a friend’s serendipitous homework assignment that had Dania O Abu-Irshaid, upcoming George Mason graduate from the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, switch her undergrad work from pre-law to a STEM path.

She says she’s always had a natural knack for coding, and it’s something that’s always interested her. But when she helped a fellow Mason student with a Python coding exercise, that’s when it clicked.

“I was thinking about pre-law, but after taking a class in it, I didn’t feel like it suited me. I was undecided,” says Abu-Irshaid. “Then my friend was struggling with this homework assignment and I ended up finishing it for her in five minutes. She looked at me and said, this is what you should be doing.”

When Abu-Irshaid made the move to study IT, with a concentration in cybersecurity, that’s when things really picked up for her. As the oldest child in her family, she was relied on to be the tech savvy expert and help fix wifi routers in the house or explain internet nuances to her parents. Although she is the first female in her family to study and work in STEM, she’s confident of the opportunities coming her way.

After graduation, Abu-Irshaid will enter a ten weeklong internship with the Virginia Department of Elections, where she will work in the cybersecurity sector. She also sees potential for a corporate position with one of the big contenders—namely Walmart. As a resident advisor at Mason to freshman engineering students, Abu-Irshaid says some of her mentees good naturedly tease her about her Walmart aspirations to this day.

“I’m like, guys, Walmart isn’t just about celery and sticky buns, they have a corporate side,” she says. “But they’ll still ask me how Walmart’s going and what kind of merchandise I have.”

With a bright future ahead, she says she’ll miss her time at Mason, particularly the diverse community and her role as an advisor.

“I love the community and culture at Mason. There’s always something to do, and something to look forward to on campus. But I’ll hopefully be back, in some capacity,” says Abu-Irshaid.

Her message for future grads is to just go for it, whether it’s a job, course of study, or opportunity.

“It’s really as simple as that, and it’s what got me everywhere,” she says. “Just go to that club meeting, go to that class, ask your professor that question. You’re not going to get the results unless you go for it.”

Topics

Information Sciences and Technology Department

Graduation

CEC 2022 graduates

CSIRTs protect cybersecurity; expand job opportunities

Rena Malai — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 20:05:11 +0000

CSIRTs protect cybersecurity; expand job opportunities Rena Malai Fri, 03/11/2022 - 15:05

In This Story

Sherif Hashem

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for anyone using technology—which is pretty much everyone. It’s an area that has seen tremendous research since the first global attacks surfaced in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Low-income countries can have challenges with getting appropriate cybersecurity protective measures in place and developing much-needed cybersecurity talents. To address this concern, George Mason Information Sciences and Technology professor Sherif Hashem was part of a team that produced a report ‘Cyber Incident Management in Low-Income Countries.’ The report was funded by Global Affairs Canada, and presented last month in an international webinar by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise.

According to Hashem, having Computer Security Incidence Response Teams (CSIRTs) in place can greatly help in handling and preventing cyber attacks. He says Computer Incidence Response is a term that popped up globally about 30 years ago, and it is associated with professionals who respond to the threats made over computer systems and networks.

“Established CSIRTs can help detect a cyber attack when it happens, and greatly minimize its impact,” Hashem says. “Cyber attacks against critical national infrastructure can be some of the most impactful as they can potentially affect everyone in society.”

One recent example is the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021, the largest cyber attack on an oil infrastructure target in U.S. history, says Hashem.

“CSIRTs across the globe work together to mitigate such cyber attacks and help bring the criminals to justice,” he says. “Without CSIRTs in situations like this, the aftermath of a cyber attack can be devastating. It’s better to be prepared and minimize any losses; recover quickly.”

The ‘Cyber Incident Management in Low-Income Countries’ report showcases CSIRT models and structures that are workable within limited budgets. The report also provides guidance on developing technical skills within CSIRTs and highlights a wide range of training programs and tools.

“Our research findings can be used holistically by any entity looking to establish CSIRTs, whether there is a limited budget or not,” says Hashem.

The first CSIRT was created by Carnegie Mellon University over thirty years ago, says Hashem. Since then, the cybersecurity space has become an area rich with job opportunities. An estimated 400,000 open cybersecurity jobs are available today in the United States alone.

“I hope this motivates students to consider information security as a part of their education and career plan,” says Hashem. “The opportunities are endless.”

The full webinar is available to view on You Tube. Part 1 and part 2 of the report are also available to view.

Topics

Cyber Security

College of Engineering and Computing

information sciences and technology

Information Sciences and Technology Department