BATON ROUGE – Cybersecurity jobs are among the fastest growing careers nationwide.
To meet this critical demand across every industry, having the top cybersecurity experts
to train the next generation of information security analysts and cyber professionals
is a priority at LSU.
In recognition and support of this priority, the state granted $5 million this past
legislative session for LSU’s cybersecurity and defense programs in Baton Rouge and
Shreveport. LSU Alexandria also has announced its Technovation Center for cyber and defense with support from Louisiana Economic
Development. The state’s investment has made the expansion of LSU’s cybersecurity research resources and faculty possible. As a result of this prioritization, two
of the nation’s top cybersecurity experts have joined LSU’s faculty.
“Our Pentagon and Scholarship First strategy prioritizes attracting accomplished scholars
to Louisiana, and we welcome two exceptional colleagues to LSU’s faculty ranks. This
cluster hire enhances our standing in cybersecurity and military studies, while supporting
an academic area that protects and secures Louisiana’s economic assets, advances discovery
and improves workforce development in the state.”
– William F. Tate IV, LSU President
Ibrahim “Abe” Baggili is LSU Department of Computer Science & Cybersecurity Professor
in the LSU College of Engineering and Center for Computation & Technology and Aisha
Ali-Gombe is an associate professor in the LSU Department of Computer Science & Engineering
and the Center for Computation & Technology.
– Photo: Katherine Seghers, LSU
Ibrahim “Abe” Baggili has joined LSU’s faculty as an LSU Department of Computer Science
& Cybersecurity Professor in the LSU College of Engineering and Center for Computation & Technology. He was the former director of the Connecticut Institute of Technology and the Elder
Family Endowed Chair at the University of New Haven, where he secured over $7 million
in research funding, helped more than double enrollment in computing programs and
led the university to become one of only 21 in the nation to be designated by the
National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations, or
CAE-CO.
Baggili leads an extensive cybersecurity and forensics research and outreach agenda
and has received multiple national and international awards. He received all of his
higher education degrees, including his Ph.D. in technology, from Purdue University.
He is a first-generation college graduate and is originally from Jordan and is fluent
in Arabic.
“President Tate’s bold vision for defense and cybersecurity is critical to compete
in this fast-paced and evolving field. LSU’s cyber vision synchronizes well with my
own aspirations. I joined because I could see limitless potential at LSU. I have no
doubts in my mind that with the right leadership support and accomplished faculty
and students, we are on our way towards becoming the preeminent cybersecurity program
both nationally and internationally. I am here to be part of this vision and to make
it a reality,” Baggili said.
Aisha Ali-Gombe has joined LSU’s faculty as an associate professor in the LSU Department of Computer Science & Engineering and the Center for Computation & Technology. She was an assistant professor at Towson University in Maryland. She received her
Ph.D. in computer science with a concentration in information assurance from the University
of New Orleans. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from
the University of Abuja in Nigeria and her master’s degree in business administration
specializing in entrepreneurship and venture creation from Bayero University Kano
in Nigeria. She is one of the few Black female cybersecurity researchers with a Ph.D.
at a Carnegie-designated research-intensive university.
“I’ve always had a close relationship with LSU – as a postdoc and a visiting research
scientist. But with President Tate’s unveiling of the APECS initiative in March, I knew it’s time. It’s time to give back to the community that made me.
Having been a critical backbone of another top CAE-CO school and my wealth of experience
in system security pedagogy and research, I am confident we can actualize the president’s
vision of making Louisiana a national leader in cyber workforce development, industry
collaboration and scholarship,” Ali-Gombe said.
For more information on LSU’s defense/cybersecurity priority, please visit https://lsu.edu/president/priorities/defense.php.
Source: https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2022/09/top-cybersecurity-professors.php