April 28. 2025 — The College of Business recently hosted an exciting cross-campus event that opened the door to new opportunities in cybersecurity for CSUMB students. The session, centered on the upcoming Global Cyber Challenge, brought together students, faculty, and collaborators from across the university and beyond to learn about this prestigious competition and how to get involved.

Jake Lopata from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) joined students on campus to share key details about the Global Cyber Challenge, which invites teams from around the world to engage in real-world cybersecurity problem-solving. With enthusiasm and clarity, Lopata walked students through the competition structure, answered questions, and inspired many to consider participating.

The event was a collaborative effort that showcased the strength of partnerships across campus. Special thanks go to Dr. Cao Thang Bui and his network security class in the Computer Science program, who stayed after class to attend the session and engage with the content. Their presence helped spark valuable discussion and interest in the challenge.

Support also came from Dr. Dante Di Gregorio, who graciously allowed interested students to leave class early and join the session. His flexibility helped ensure that students with a passion for cybersecurity had the opportunity to learn more.

Dr. Linda Glenn brought additional depth to the session by sharing her own experience and offering mentorship to student teams. Her presence and encouragement played a pivotal role in helping students feel supported and confident.

The event also welcomed Christian Smith, Director of the Monterey Peninsula College MESA program, who attended to explore ways of expanding this opportunity to even more students. His participation highlighted the shared commitment to creating a strong pipeline for cybersecurity education across institutions.

“It was especially exciting to see students ask so many thoughtful and informed questions,” said Maj-Britt Kimm, College of Business Lecturer and Career Access Coordinator. “The energy in the room made it clear how ready our students are to step up to challenges like this.”

The behind-the-scenes success of the event was made possible thanks to College of Business staff members Stephanie and Jonathan, who handled everything from flyer design to student outreach, and even provided pizza and cookies to create a warm, welcoming environment.

Thanks to the strong turnout and interest, CSUMB is proud to report that at least two student teams will participate in the Global Cyber Challenge this fall. It’s an exciting development that reflects both the growing interest in cybersecurity on campus and the strength of interdepartmental and inter-institutional collaboration.

“This is just the beginning,” said Kimm. “We’re thrilled to continue building bridges between CSUMB and MIIS and to offer even more meaningful, career-building experiences for our students.”

Stay tuned for more updates as CSUMB student teams prepare to compete in the Global Cyber Challenge this fall!