Leadership

President of Cybersecurity & IT Student Association

Role: President – Cybersecurity & IT Student Association (CISA)

Tools: Event Management, Canva, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, Discord, Slack, Canva, Leadership & Public Speaking

Duration: Spring 2025 – Present

Description:

As President of the Cybersecurity & IT Student Association at Penn State Abington, I lead a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to promoting cybersecurity awareness, technical skill development, and professional growth among students. Through hands-on events, workshops, and hackathons, I’ve helped bridge classroom knowledge with real-world application, fostering a collaborative environment for future cybersecurity professionals.

Key Contributions:

Organized and facilitated over a dozen campus-wide cybersecurity events, including Vision in Code: CIFAR-10 Hackathon and Intergalactic Intelligence: Crack the Code! — engaging students through hands-on cryptography and AI challenges.
Collaborated with faculty and administration to secure budgets, reserve facilities, and manage logistics for large-scale events and guest speaker sessions.
Created visually cohesive event flyers, promotional materials, and social media content using Canva and Google Workspace to increase membership and engagement.
Mentored students in cybersecurity fundamentals, ethical hacking, and professional development while promoting peer-led learning and collaboration.
Represented the organization in university leadership meetings, strengthening connections between students, faculty, and industry partners.

Outcome:

Under my leadership, CISA grew into one of the most active and recognized student organizations on campus, uniting students across cybersecurity, IT, and computer science disciplines. The organization’s events and initiatives have provided experiential learning opportunities that empower students to apply cybersecurity theory in real-world scenarios, strengthening both community and technical expertise.

Please scan this QR Code to access the Instagram page associated with the Penn State Abington Cybersecurity & IT Student Association!

Intergalactic Intelligence: Crack the Code!

Role: President of Cybersecurity & IT Student Association

Tools: Caesar Cipher, Vigenère Cipher, Binary Encoding, Substitution Tables, Event Logistics (Canva, Google Slides)

Duration: Fall 2025

Description:

This project involved the design and facilitation of "Intergalactic Intelligence: Crack the Code!", an interactive cryptography event hosted by the Cybersecurity & IT Student Association at Penn State Abington. The event introduced students to the fundamentals of classical and modern encryption through gamified, hands-on challenges. Participants assumed the role of codebreakers tasked with decrypting alien transmissions to “save campus,” promoting both cybersecurity awareness and engagement in STEM fields.

Key Contributions:

Created multi-stage cryptography puzzles incorporating Caesar and Vigenère ciphers, binary encoding, and simple substitution methods.
Developed educational slides connecting each puzzle to real-world encryption concepts such as RSA, SHA-256, and Diffie–Hellman key exchange.
Designed and distributed promotional materials using Canva, coordinating event logistics, Chick-fil-A catering, and prize sponsorships.
Facilitated the live event session, guiding over 40 students through cryptographic problem-solving while encouraging collaboration and discussion.
Collected post-event feedback and participant data to inform future cybersecurity outreach initiatives.

Outcome:

The event successfully merged education and entertainment to foster student interest in cybersecurity and cryptography. It enhanced my skills in public speaking, event coordination, and instructional design while demonstrating the ability to translate complex technical concepts into accessible learning experiences.

Crack the code.pdf

Event Promotional Flyer

Intergalactic Inteligence.pdf

Canva Presentation Materials

Intergalactic Intelligence_ Crack the Code Worksheet.pdf

Student Worksheet

Answer Key Intergalactic Intelligence_ Crack the Code Worksheet.pdf

Worksheet Answer Key

Vision in Code! Hack-A-Thon

Role: President of Cybersecurity & IT Student Association

Tools: Python, TensorFlow, Keras, NumPy, Matplotlib, Google Colab

Duration: Fall 2025

Description:

This one-hour interactive workshop, "Vision in Code! Hackathon," introduced students to the fundamentals of computer vision and machine learning using the CIFAR-10 image dataset. Under my instruction, participants learned how convolutional neural networks (CNNs) recognize objects such as airplanes, cars, and animals. Using pre-provided Python code in Google Colab, students trained their own AI model in real time and explored how image classification works through hands-on experimentation.

Key Contributions:

Taught students how to preprocess image data, normalize pixel values, and train convolutional neural networks using TensorFlow and Keras.
Guided live code demonstrations explaining CNN layers (Conv2D, MaxPooling2D, Flatten, Dense) and optimization settings (Adam, loss, epochs).
Enabled students to test AI model performance by uploading custom images to evaluate accuracy and explore “adversarial” inputs that could mislead the model.
Connected the exercise to real-world security applications such as adversarial machine learning, AI safety, and evasion testing in computer vision systems.
Designed all instructional materials and visuals in Google Colab and PowerPoint, simplifying complex AI principles for beginner-level learners.

Outcome:

Students successfully trained image recognition models and experimented with model robustness by attempting to “trick” their AI classifiers. The event improved participants’ understanding of AI bias, image preprocessing, and model interpretation, while reinforcing cybersecurity concepts through the lens of adversarial machine learning.

Copy of Vision In Code CIFAR-10 Hack-a-thon.pdf

Event Promotional Flyer

CIFAR-10.pdf

Canva Presentation

Google Colab

Google Colab Link:

An interactive Google Colab environment where students trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) on the CIFAR-10 dataset using pre-written Python code. The notebook guided participants step-by-step through data preprocessing, model training, and image classification, then allowed them to upload custom images to test or “trick” the AI—demonstrating how real-world computer vision systems can be fooled through adversarial inputs.

Picture Point Password: Hack-A-Thon

Role: Event Coordinator & Social Media Director of Cybersecurity & IT Student Association

Tools: Java, Swing GUI Framework, Pixel Coordinate Mapping, Exception Handling, Event Listeners

Duration: Fall 2024

Description:

This project implemented a graphical authentication system known as a Picture Point Password, where users select specific click-points on an image to create a password. Instead of alphanumeric input, authentication is achieved by accurately re-clicking those coordinates in sequence on the same image. The project was developed in Java and presented at a cybersecurity hackathon as part of an interactive challenge, allowing participants to explore both secure authentication mechanisms and potential vulnerabilities within graphical password schemes.

Key Contributions:

Designed and coded a full Java GUI system that records user-defined click coordinates and validates them on login attempts.
Implemented coordinate tolerance and sequential verification logic to simulate realistic picture-based authentication workflows.
Integrated image-loading, mouse-event tracking, and file-based storage of hashed coordinate sets for password validation.
Created an educational demonstration for hackathon participants to test system weaknesses and practice ethical password-cracking techniques.
Presented technical slides explaining usability benefits, potential attack vectors (e.g., shoulder surfing, hotspot analysis), and future enhancements for multi-factor authentication.

Outcome:

The project effectively demonstrated the trade-off between usability and security in graphical authentication systems. Participants gained hands-on experience analyzing password entropy and bypass strategies, while I gained practical insight into secure GUI design, event-driven programming, and vulnerability analysis. This project reinforced my understanding of human-centric cybersecurity design and served as an engaging educational tool for promoting secure authentication practices.

Hackathon Presentation.pdf

GitHub - markj2104/PicturePointPasswordMasterCodeContribute to markj2104/PicturePointPasswordMasterCode development by creating an account on GitHub.

Canva Presentation

An interactive cybersecurity presentation introducing the concept of graphical passwords through the Picture Point system. Students learned how image-based authentication works, explored its security strengths and weaknesses, and attempted to ethically “break” the password through hands-on analysis.

Picture Point Password Master Code

A Java-based graphical authentication system that allows users to create passwords by selecting click-points on an image. The program records and verifies coordinate sequences to demonstrate secure and user-friendly alternatives to traditional text-based passwords.

See Yourself In Tech!

Role: President of Cybersecurity & IT Student Association

Tools: Public Speaking, Professional Networking, Event Coordination, Communication Skills

Duration: Fall 2024

Description:

The "See Yourself in Tech!" event brought together alumni and industry professionals to serve as panelists and share career insights with students across the School of Information Science and Technology. As a student representative and event organizer, I helped facilitate the panel discussion, welcomed speakers, and supported the flow of the event. Panelists introduced themselves, discussed their roles in tech, and engaged in open conversations about career paths, technical skills, and preparing for internships and full-time roles.

Key Contributions:

Assisted in coordinating the event by communicating with panelists, organizing seating, and ensuring the session ran smoothly.
Helped guide student participation, encouraged questions, and supported productive discussions on cybersecurity, networking, software development, and related tech fields.
Networked with alumni and industry professionals to learn about their career paths, seek guidance, and explore opportunities within cybersecurity and IT.
Served as a student representative of the Cybersecurity & IT Student Association, helping connect students with industry speakers and university resources.

Outcome:

Students gained valuable insight into the tech industry, learned practical career advice from professionals, and connected with alumni for mentorship and networking opportunities. The event strengthened my professional communication skills, expanded my industry network, and deepened my understanding of diverse paths within cybersecurity and technology.

Programming & Network Tutoring

Role: Programming & Network Tutor

Tools: Python, Java, Wireshark, Packet Tracer, Cisco CLI, Windows & Linux Systems

Duration: Fall 2023 - Spring 2025

Description:

As a Programming and Network Tutor at Penn State Abington, I provided peer-to-peer academic support to students enrolled in IST and Cybersecurity courses. Tutoring sessions covered programming fundamentals, networking protocols, and applied cybersecurity concepts within the campus cyber lab environment. I guided students through hands-on problem-solving, lab exercises, and real-world troubleshooting scenarios to strengthen their technical proficiency and confidence.

Key Contributions:

Delivered one-on-one and small group tutoring in Python and Java programming, focusing on loops, conditionals, data structures, and debugging.
Assisted students with networking concepts such as subnetting, IP addressing, and routing using Cisco Packet Tracer and Wireshark.
Supported lab-based exercises involving Linux commands, security configuration, and network diagnostics.
Collaborated with faculty to identify common learning challenges and tailor tutoring sessions to course outcomes.
Provided both in-person and remote tutoring sessions to ensure accessibility and academic success for all students.

Outcome:

Helped numerous students improve their programming logic, lab performance, and understanding of network fundamentals. This experience enhanced my leadership, technical communication, and instructional skills while reinforcing my expertise across multiple areas of cybersecurity and IT infrastructure.

Copy of Spring 2025 Tutoring Flyer.pdf

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