Warhawk Weekly 9–15: Center for Cyber Security; AUM recognized; Math education grant

AUM creates Center for Cyber Security

A new Center for Cyber Security at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) will be dedicated to developing research and partnerships that ensure the next generation of cyber security professionals have the tools needed to meet today’s challenges in fighting cybersecurity attacks and hacking.

AUM has chosen Gary Amerson, who previously served as head of the Operational Cyber Security Support Branch at the Naval Education and Training Command at Saufley Field in Pensacola, Fla., to head the new AUM Center for Cyber Security (AUMCCS).

“AUM’s new Center for Cyber Security was established to create strong relationships with local government, military, private industry and the greater Montgomery community,” Amerson said. “The center will foster awareness of cyber security issues and their solutions while serving as an incubator of new concepts, knowledge and skills to address the threats of the ever-changing cyber security landscape.”

Amerson said the center’s focus is on developing partnerships with industry, governmental agencies, universities and K-12 schools, hosting cyber education conferences and events, and developing proposals for externally funded research and programming.

“The center’s ultimate goal is to ensure the next generation of cyber security professionals have the tools needed to meet the challenges they will face,” he said.

The new Center for Cyber Security, housed within the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science within the College of Sciences, also presents possibilities for students in AUM’s undergraduate computer science and graduate computer science, computer information systems and cyber security programs.

Learn more in the AUM Pressroom.

U.S. News & World Report recognizes AUM for innovation, overall excellence

Auburn University at Montgomery ranked among the top regional universities in the South for its undergraduate teaching and innovative approaches in U.S. News & World Report’s newly released 2021 Best Colleges survey.

AUM placed 15th among Southern regional comprehensive universities for the quality of its undergraduate teaching and earned a No. 16 regional ranking as one of the most “innovative” universities in the South.

“Being recognized among our peers as a leader in undergraduate teaching is particularly meaningful because it connects to our core mission as a university,” AUM Chancellor Carl A. Stockton said. “This recognition speaks to the quality of our faculty, as well as their commitment to providing a student-centered experience.”

AUM’s placement among the most innovative universities in the region reflects survey results of higher education administrators who were asked to identify “schools to watch” based on “cutting edge” approaches to curriculum, students, faculty, technology, campus life or facilities. Overall, AUM improved its placement among regional public universities from 2020. U.S. News ranked AUM No. 31 overall among public universities in the South (up from 33^rd in 2020) and 73^rd among all colleges (up from 79^th in 2020).

In addition to surveying higher education administrators nationwide, U.S. News bases its 2021 Best Colleges rankings on a variety of factors, including data on graduation and retention rates, faculty resources and class sizes, student excellence and alumni giving.

Founded in 1967, AUM began serving students in Alabama’s River Region in 1969. Today, it serves a student body of more than 5,000 and offers undergraduate and graduate degree options in more than 90 program areas.

In addition to earning recognition among the Best Colleges in U.S. News’ 2021 survey, AUM was recently recognized as one of the top universities in the South by The Princeton Review. AUM recently earned distinction as the top university in Alabama’s River Region for the third consecutive year, according the voters in the Montgomery Advertiser’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and has been selected as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media.

Grant supports innovative approaches to math education

A $7,500 check presented by Alabama Rep. Charlotte Meadows to AUM Chancellor Carl A. Stockton on Monday will support an innovative program that positions incoming freshmen for success in college-level math courses.

The grant will support use of McGraw Hill’s ALEKS software in testing 300 students who require developmental mathematics assistance before progressing to higher-level courses in their chosen disciplines. AUM tailors math education pathways to particular career tracks and provides instruction targeted to content specific for each individual student.

The ALEKS software promotes student success in gateway mathematics courses by helping pinpoint those specific facets of mathematics in which students need additional support without having them to go through the traditional development course sequence. The $7,500 grant will open doors for 300 students, whose testing will offer new and affordable pathways to succeed in college-level math courses.​

AUM Alum Brandon Taylor recognized for first novel

A recent New York Times profile traces former AUM student Brandon Taylor’s amazing journey from scientist to an award-winning novelist.

Throughout his undergraduate years at AUM and graduate school in Wisconsin, Taylor felt he had to choose between science or writing, and science often won, Taylor shares in the New York Times article.

Taylor, who once appeared to be on track to fulfill his ambition of becoming a neurosurgeon, went on to earn a master’s degree at the University Wisconsin and was pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry when he received an invitation to pursue his other passion writing.

Through a fellowship from the Tin House summer writing workshop, Taylor changed his career plans. His debut novel, “Real Life,” is now on The Booker Prizes 2020 shortlist. The Booker Prizes reward and celebrate the finest in fiction, highlighting great books to readers and transforming authors’ careers.

Read more about Taylor’s journey at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/books/brandon-taylor-real-life.html.

Student Success Workshops

AUM’s UNIV courses help new students build the skills they will need throughout their college careers. For Fall 2020, the AUM Library and UNIV Student Success Program will offer virtual UNIV Student Success Workshops from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. on the following days:

Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 15-16
Diversity with Brooke Burks and Michael Baugh

Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 22-23
UNIV: Midterm Prep/PowerPoint Workshop with Amy Ingram

Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 29-30
Wellness/Mental Health with Greta Chambless & Amber McGlawn

Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 6-7
Study/Test-Prep with Heather Adams & Paul Arrington

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 13-14
Information Literacy with Samantha McNeilly

Wednesday, October 21
Service/Experiential Learning with Brenda Plympton

Access the sessions via the following Zoom link: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/92455937401.

Score a $5 T-shirt at the AUM Bookstore

It’s T-shirt time! The ever-popular $5 T-shirt is back at the AUM Bookstore. With the color assortment, you can get one for every day of the week. And, at that price, you can rock a different one each day of the month. Shop in-person on campus or order online. And keep an eye out for the bookstore’s upcoming Back to School sale.

National Panhellenic Council hosts virtual Convocation

AUM’s historically African-American fraternities and sororities have proud traditions of service, scholarship and overall excellence.

Learn more about how to get involved during Wednesday’s virtual Convocation. The event will be held via Zoom at 6 p.m. Registration is $5 and can be paid via CashApp.

Get the details: http://www.aum.edu/NHPCconvo

Library modifies operating hours

The AUM Library has modified its operating hours for in-person services.

The updated hours are:

• Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
• Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: 1 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Virtual Help Desk hours will not be impacted.

Become a Working Warhawk

Are you looking for work on campus? AUM’s Career Development Center is ready to assist students with finding work on campus using Handshake, the university’s online tool for connecting students with off-campus employers and on-campus job opportunities.

To begin your search and access Handshake, complete the following steps:

• Go to MyAUM and select the Handshake link. You will be taken directly to the Handshake login page.
• Register for an account in Handshake. Simply select Auburn University at Montgomery, complete a brief informational section, and you’re all set!

Within the job search, you can search specifically for on-campus positions. To do this, select Jobs from the top menu bar and this should take you directly to the job search page.

To find positions designated as on-campus jobs, click the on-campus filter. This will give you all of the jobs that have been specified as on-campus positions.

You will find details regarding the job responsibilities, campus location, hours, and pay range.

If you need additional assistance with creating resumes and cover letters or preparing for interviews, visit the Career Development Center in Taylor Center 323 or email [email protected] for more information.