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Member Advisory Board

The Carolina Cyber Network’s Member Advisory Board provides guidance, insight, and support to help shape the network’s direction and initiatives. Comprising representatives from member institutions, the board ensures that the network remains aligned with the needs of its diverse stakeholders while fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and advancing a unified vision for cybersecurity education and workforce development across North Carolina.

Meeting Notes

CCN Advisory Board Meeting 11/4/2025
  1. Student Communication and Engagement
  • Current outreach methods: Schools use multiple channels (LMS announcements, email blasts, Teams, bulletin boards, and class discussions) to promote opportunities like internships and career fairs.
  • Challenges: Students—especially online—often ignore school emails and announcements, resulting in low participation in internships (CyberSafe and SOC) and events.
  • Proposed solution:
    • Create a student subscription system on the CCN website where students opt in to receive updates via text or personal email.
    • Each student could choose their preferred method of communication for internship, workshop, and career event information.
    • Faculty expressed strong support and offered to promote this subscription during onboarding and advising.
  1. Internship Program Updates
  • CyberSafe and SOC internships:
    • Many schools have unfilled slots despite active promotion; currently, only 11 students from 5 of 11 schools are participating in CyberSafe.
    • The SOC program is at capacity and being rationed by program size.
  • Concerns raised:
    • Smaller schools feel disadvantaged by slot reductions after initially sending large numbers of interns.
    • Suggestion to reallocate unused slots from less-active schools to others ready to participate.
  • Budget and capacity constraints:
    • Limited number of internship positions due to staffing capacity and budget. 
    • The CCN wants to ensure that spots are allocated fairly across member schools.
  • Scheduling improvement:
    • Internship applications will now follow a consistent annual schedule (April for fall, October for spring).
  • Enhancement ideas:
    • Include student testimonials and use of peer advocacy to promote internship participation.
  1. Spring Convening and Reception
  • Networking reception feedback:
    • Members preferred informal, social venues (restaurants or breweries) for networking.
    • Attendance tends to drop by ~40%, often due to travel fatigue.
    • Suggestions: make the event more engaging with activities like karaoke, raffles, or a Hot Ones Challenge; consider hosting it on Wednesday night for earlier arrivals.
  • Logistical discussion:
    • Possibility of reducing the number of funded attendees per school to 2 (instead of 3) to cover an additional night’s lodging.
  1. Spring 2026 Convening Theme – Soft Skills
  • Theme: “Soft Skills in Cybersecurity Education”
    • Thursday: Communication Skills (led by Sunny Kelly, Fayetteville Tech)
    • Friday: Ethics in Cybersecurity (led by Kelli Burgin, Montreat College)
  • Goals:
    • Focus on integrating communication and ethical reasoning into technical coursework.
    • Emphasize interview preparation, professionalism, and presentation skills.
  • Ideas shared:
    • Faculty roundtables to share effective classroom strategies.
    • “Tool swap” session where instructors bring one proven soft-skills activity or assignment.
    • Develop short videos and web resources for students and faculty on resumes, interviews, and networking.
    • Include hands-on practice sessions rather than lectures.
  1. Adjunct Faculty Database
  • Purpose: To connect CCN institutions with qualified adjunct instructors.
  • Status:
    • Form available on the CCN website’s “Partner With Us” page; database access for members will soon be added to the members’ area.
    • About 10 applicants currently listed.
  • Details collected: Contact info, degrees, certifications, teaching and professional experience, subject interests, and availability.
  • Next steps: Schools are encouraged to contribute contacts and use the tool when searching for adjuncts.
  1. Student Success Page and Resources
  • New “Student Success” section on the CCN website:
    • Will host career-prep videos (resume writing, interview strategies, networking tips).
    • Includes student success spotlights—recent examples include Kristen from Catawba Valley and students from Cleveland Community College.
    • Faculty encouraged to submit more student stories.
  1. Upcoming Events and Funding Notes
  • Curriculum Conversations meeting: November 18, 2:00 p.m. – focus on articulation and transfer agreements.
  • National Cyber League competition: October weekend event; small funds available through Chris Herring for team support (likely via reimbursement).
  • CCN event calendar: Schools asked to submit their cyber-related events for inclusion.
  1. Key Takeaways
  • Communication improvements are top priority, with direct-to-student channels being developed.
  • Internship participation remains below capacity; redistribution of unused slots and stronger promotion are being explored.
  • Funding remains tight until the state budget stabilizes; CCN leadership is pursuing recurring funds.
  • Spring convening will focus on practical methods for integrating soft skills into cybersecurity programs.
  • New adjunct and student success tools are expanding network support for faculty and students.

Meeting Overview

The primary goals of the meeting were to reflect on the recent Fall Convening, discuss ongoing initiatives (internships, marketing, competitions, and sector groups), and gather advisory input.

Key Discussion Areas

  1. Fall Convening Feedback
  • Positive remarks: Strong structure, effective breakout sessions, and engaging workshops (especially the hands-on AI and escape room sessions).
  • Suggestions:
    • Feature speakers who focus less on workforce shortages and more on concrete industry solutions.
    • Continue using longer, in-depth sessions when the topic requires it.
  1. Internship Program
  • Members praised the addition of full-time staff and growing internship partnerships with state agencies.
  • Requests & recommendations:
    • Schools should receive regular performance updates on their students in internships and the SOC program.
    • Students need clear guidance on how to earn academic credit—credit must be arranged with faculty, not automatic.
  1. Range Licenses
  • Discussion centered on the logistics of issuing and purchasing Cyber Range licenses.
  • Forsyth Tech reported success integrating license fees into bookstore systems, eliminating markups and simplifying distribution.
  1. Marketing and Communications
  • Joe Jacubielski outlined efforts to collect success stories, photos, and KPIs for the CCN website and annual report.
  • Schools were asked to:
    • Submit stories of student and institutional successes.
    • Notify CCN when they host or participate in events or speaking engagements.
    • Share and engage with CCN posts on LinkedIn to boost visibility.
  • Follow-up planned on previously submitted stories that haven’t yet been published.
  1. Competitions
  • Several colleges reported active participation in National Cyber League (NCL) and other competitions.
  • Benefits cited included teamwork, employability skill-building, and student engagement.
  • Some schools integrate competitions into coursework for credit or as part of degree requirements.
  1. Sector Groups
  • Finance and Healthcare sector groups were discussed:
    • Finance: Activity has slowed; leadership remains under Greg Sayadian. Suggestion to better share lessons learned and replicate successes regionally.
    • Healthcare: Pivoting to develop short cyber modules embedded in health programs to teach basic cybersecurity and AI awareness.
  • General concern: sector groups run in parallel, making it hard for members to attend multiple sessions—consider ways to share outcomes across groups.
  1. Soft Skills and Employability
  • Industry partners continue to emphasize the need for stronger soft skills, ethics, and workplace readiness among students.
  • Schools shared strategies:
    • Integrating ethics modules, group projects, mock interviews, and presentations into coursework.
    • Reinforcing professionalism and attendance as part of classroom culture.
    • Encouraging ethical AI use in coursework.
  1. Escape Room Initiative
  • The cybersecurity escape room at the Fall Convening was well received.
  • Plans are underway to:
    • Create standardized escape room kits for schools.
    • Expand the activity at the Spring Convening.
    • Add resources to the CCN K–12 webpage.

Action Items & Next Steps

  • Collect and publish student and college success stories on the CCN website.
  • Develop a consistent process for internship reporting to member schools.
  • Encourage schools to document outreach, presentations, and community engagement.
  • Continue developing embedded cyber training in non-IT programs (e.g., healthcare).
  • Prepare enhanced escape room resources and larger sessions for Spring 2026 Convening at Blue Ridge Community College.

Key Announcements & Updates

  1. Fall Convening
  • SCALE Initiative Visitors:  Guests from Texas (8+) and Indiana (4) will attend the upcoming convening to learn about CCN.
  • New Member Schools:  Lenoir Community College and East Carolina University will attend the convening as guests.
  • Advisory board members encouraged to welcome them and share experiences.
  1. Speaker Series
  • Launching this semester, with two events planned (Sept. & Nov.).
  • First session: Sept. 11, featuring Roger Grimes (KnowBe4).
  • Students (and faculty) must register; space is limited.
  • Joe Jakubielski is coordinating future speakers. Contact Joe with suggestions:  joe.jakubielski@carolinacybernetwork.net
  1. Career Fair & Prep
  • Eastern Career Fair held in conjunction with the Fall Convening at Fayetteville Tech, September 25, 2:00 – 4:00 PM.
  • Includes employer/student panel, workshop, and employer booths.
  • Visa gift cards provided to eastern NC students to offset travel costs.
  • Resume workshop scheduled for Sept. 18 (virtual).
  • Western Career Fair planned at Montreat in Feb.
  1. Spring Convening
  • Scheduled for March 19–20 at Blue Ridge Community College.
  1. Hotel Reservations Issue
  • Ongoing challenge with late bookings; strict enforcement moving forward.
  • Advisory board asked to help reinforce deadlines at their institutions.
  1. Internships
  • Thanks to members who helped with DIT internship application reviews and interviews.
  • Strong candidate pool; 10 DIT spots available, more placements being pursued.
  • Students not selected encouraged to apply for SOC internship (apps close Sept. 15).
  1. Escape Room at Convening
  • Four sessions available, pre-registration required. Registration information will be emailed soon.
  • Developed by faculty leaders; designed to simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios.
  • Long-term plan: create portable kits for schools across the network.
  1. Convening Agenda & Breakouts
  • Advisory board members confirmed for presentations and breakout discussions (topics include capstones, using AI to integrate cyber into multiple disciplines, cyber clubs, and transfer pathways).
  • Breakouts are roundtable-style, with facilitators guiding discussion.
  • Sector groups to meet informally over lunch rather than in dedicated sessions.
  1.   Other Discussions
  • Curriculum Alignment Committee seeks to connect with four-year institutions during the convening (possible informal meeting), most likely during a break.
  • CCN considering expansion priorities: geographic coverage, especially four-year representation in all regions. Funding model discussions ongoing.
  • Curriculum Conversations Forum scheduled for Sept. 9 (Teams link: Curriculum Conversations Forum Teams Meeting).

Action Items for Members

  •  Promote the resume workshop, career fair, and speaker series to students.
  •  Encourage colleagues to register early for the escape room.
  •  Welcome new schools and SCALE Initiative guests at the convening.
  • Reinforce timely hotel booking with school participants.

1. Fall Convening Agenda

Fall CCN Escape Room Planning

  • Escape room sessions scheduled for Thursday 10:30 AM concurrent with advisory board meetings, plus Friday 8-9 AM and during breakout sessions.
  • Tony Brown confirmed two escape rooms ready with Raspberry Pi and breakout kits from previous CCN grants, requiring only room space and internet.
  • Room requirements: L-shaped former student learning center with lockable storage, can accommodate both escape rooms.
  • Setup timeline: Tony’s team arriving Wednesday night or Thursday morning, needing 20-30 minutes setup time.
  • Sign-up system: Pre-registration required for all escape room sessions, 10 people per session, 80 total capacity across four time slots.

CCN Breakout Sessions and Programming

  • Four confirmed breakout sessions repeated morning and afternoon: Victoria on building better capstones, Tony on integrated CCN using AI, Jerry Miles on cybersecurity clubs, Kelly/Ulku/Maduri on transfer pathways.
  • Career fair and student panel scheduled 2-4 PM Thursday with recent graduates providing job search advice.
  • Virtual resume workshop planned prior to CCN to prepare students for career fair, targeting eastern state schools.
  • Career fair goals: 15-20 employers, 100 students, with $25 Visa gift cards for attending students.
  • Student panel recruitment needed: Recent graduates with jobs from eastern schools to speak on networking and job search strategies.

2. Virtual Speaker Series

  • Roger Grimes confirmed as first speaker on September 11 (9/11), with registration system being considered.
  • Two speakers per semester planned, seeking recommendations for additional speakers appealing to wide student range.

3. Internships

DIT Internship Program Details

  • 10 internship positions available for fall semester, remote work with flexible 20-hour weekly schedules across three shifts.
  • Application timeline: Opened today, closes August 15, review committee decisions by August 18, interviews week of August 25, mid-September start.
  • Eligibility requirements: 18+ years, 2.8+ GPA, US citizenship, 200+ hours in SOC/cybersafe communities or comparable experience.
  • Selection process: Redacted applications to minimize bias, five-person CCN review committee, 15 candidates interviewed for 10 positions.
  • Additional opportunities: Four companies potentially adding internships if MOUs signed by Wednesday, Department of Revenue seeking two January interns.

AI Integration Discussion 

  • Tony Brown raised challenge of integrating AI into cybersecurity curriculum beyond basic prompting tools.
  • Working group proposal: Consensus reached to create AI working group to develop shared solutions across CCN schools.
  • Sandellyo Kauba mentioned work with Women in Cyber on secure AI course development using local models for granular control.
  • Ulku Clark shared university AI workshop series covering research, teaching, and general AI applications.

Business and Industry Advisory Board Input

  • Cynthia Reeves requested advice on agenda topics for high-level business leaders (CEOs, CIOs, CISOs) meeting in September.
  • Focus areas identified: AI integration in cybersecurity, hiring practices, and current industry needs.

Action items

Tony Brown

  • Coordinate with team to assign facilitators for each escape room time slot

Larry Young

  • Contact Dr. Iman El Sheikh for AI integration resources and share with working group

Advisory Board Members

  • Submit recent graduate names and contact information for student panel by schools in eastern part of state
  • Recommend potential virtual speaker series candidates

Attendance: Cynthia Reeves, Thomas Brown, Gonda Watson, Kem Harvey, Sandellyo Aimhetep Kauba, Larry Young, David Townsend, Ulku Clark, Chris Davis, Aimee Durham, Kelli Burgin, Lance Barber, Aden Cranford, Susan Randall

 Website Access & Content Organization

  • Discussed structuring the CCN website into three access levels:
    • Public section: Open to everyone; can include general internship listings and event info.
    • Members-only section: For school representatives; houses internal updates and resources. Internship Listings: Suggested maintaining a list of internships per school on the general members’ page.
    • Password-protected section: For advisory board use; for draft documents and secure materials. For example, Kem suggested that collaborative documents could be uploaded for group review and editing to the secure site.

Monthly Speaker Series

  • Advisory board voted via show-of-hands to launch a monthly speaker series beginning in September.
  • Events would be open to all 24 CCN schools.
  • Aden proposed holding speaker events twice per semester (e.g., September, November, February, April).
  • Events would be recorded for later access and professional development.

Student Career Resources Portal

  • Ulku proposed a student login section on the site offering:
    • Resume templates tailored to specific cybersecurity roles (e.g., SOC analyst vs. policy).
    • Interview preparation resources (including mock interviews and sample questions).
    • Access to Michelle’s old interview videos.
    • Online “speed interview” events.
    • Resume review services and keyword optimization.
  • Ongoing coordination with Adrienne George to possibly launch these features by August or September.

Career Fairs & Student Events

  • Cynthia suggested making the CCN Career Fair a full-day event to increase student participation.
  • Recent graduates could be invited to speak about their experiences and the value of attending the fair.
  • Ulku also proposed organizing a CCN-wide member event in conjunction with the fair.
  • Gonda suggested inviting students who have successfully found jobs to speak about their paths and the importance of certifications.
  • Kem emphasized the value of student success stories to inspire current students and reduce certification anxiety.

Adjunct Faculty & K–12 Resource Databases

  • An adjunct faculty database is in development; requested input on useful fields, such as:
    • Name, Program of Study, Years Taught, Credentials, Certifications, Availability.
  • Tony proposed creating a K–12 resource library for CCN members:
    • Activities and teaching tools for 1-hour to full-day sessions.

CCN-Wide Club & Competitions

  • Sandellyo suggested starting a statewide CCN cyber club for students, with a designated coordinator.
  • Cynthia noted that, due to personnel constraints within the CCN, members interested in organizing a cyber competition for the CCN should work together to create that event.

Fall Convening & Articulation Agreements

  • Discussion on enhancing the Fall Convening to better support student transfers:
    • Identify sets of transferable courses.
    • Clarify how certifications can be used to waive equivalent courses at 4-year institutions.
    • Request to define which certifications map to which courses.