CIS News
![Dr. Dannette Gomez Beane, assistant vice provost for enrollment management for strategic initiatives at Virginia Tech speaks to cadets at VMI, a military college in Lexington, Virginia.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/VTMastersProgram2023AJP06_web-1-400x266.jpg)
Virginia Military Institute and Virginia Tech have partnered to launch a new accelerated master’s degree program for a Master of Science (MS) and Master of Engineering (Meng) in computer science and applications/computer engineering for VMI cadets.
![Riley Shultz ’24, Christian Cole ’24, and Parker Rice ’24 confer on debate strategy in the balcony overlooking the assembly at the Model Arab League.-Photo courtesy of Maj. Jason Schroepfer.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/armal_cadets_web-1-400x266.jpg)
Cadets participated in the annual three-day Appalachia Regional Model Arab League debate recently at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. MAL helps prepare students to be knowledgeable, well-trained, and effective citizens as well as civic and public affairs activists.
![Cadets participate in a CCI event, Breakfast with the Expert](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/IMG_0897-1-400x267.jpg)
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is sponsoring "Breakfast with the Expert," a discussion series at Virginia Military Institute that provides opportunities for cadets to learn from and interact with industry experts. It is organized by CCI fellows, Dr. Sherif Abdelhamid and Dr. Imran Ghani.
![Gretchen Matthews, Ph.D., director of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative in Southwest Virginia and Virginia Tech mathematics professor](/media/content-assets/images/news/2022-23/CCISymposium2023KN04-1-400x266.jpg)
The ProCyEd (Professional requirements to Cybersecurity Education) Research team at Virginia Military Institute hosted its first Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Symposium on Sept. 21 in Marshall Hall. VMI participants demonstrated their research activities, products, demos, and posters.
![Nichols Engineering building and VMI logo](/media/content-assets/images/news/standard-images/Academic-Nichols-400x266.jpg)
Virginia Military Institute has retained its high placing among the nation’s best colleges, according to college rankings released this week by U.S News and World Report. Among public liberal arts colleges, the Institute ranked fourth.
A group of 17 local high school students solved a fictional murder mystery using the skills they learned during the second annual CyberSmart Workshop held June 6-10 by the Cyber Defense Laboratory at Virginia Military Institute.
![Portrait photo of Alex Rodriguez '22 in class dyke](/media/content-assets/images/news/2021-22/ARodriguez22-1-400x266.jpg)
“As VMI cadets, we are sought after for our leadership, discipline, and integrity. These are qualities that are simply not reliably found at other schools.”
![](/media/content-assets/images/news/2021-22/CyberSmart2022_thumbnail-400x266.jpg)
The VMI Cyber Defense Laboratory will host a CyberSmart workshop for high school students June 6-10 and for middle school students June 13-17. Registration is open until May 16 or until all spots are filled.
![Jake Stephens ’22 and Connor Arnold ’22 are joined by their families in Cameron Hall while they are recognized during senior night Feb. 23.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2021-22/Jake-Stephens-22-001-400x266.jpg)
Jake Stephens ’22, captain of the Keydet basketball team, computer science major, and tallest cadet in the Corps leads by example and has been guided by positive relationships during his cadetship.
![William Shelley ’23, John Barker ’23, and Lynda Toumi ’24 work together during the competition portion of the 2022 Commonwealth Cyber Fusion in Marshall Hall at VMI on Feb. 26.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2021-22/Cyber-Fusion-Feb-22-001-400x266.jpg)
VMI hosted its annual invitation-only cybersecurity competition that also included a job fair, employer panel, faculty round-table discussion, and keynote speaker Stoney Trent, retired Army colonel and Virginia Tech research professor.