Cutting the ribbon to ofcially open the MCPc Cyber Education Center at Mercyhurst University are, from left, President Michael T. Victor; U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly; Erie Insurance President and CEO Tim NeCastro; Provost Leanne Roberts; MCPc CEO Andy Jones; and the Hon. Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
MERCYHURST UNVEILS HIGH-TECH MCPc CYBER EDUCATION CENTER
- “Sometimes a building is just a building – four walls, a foor and ceiling,” said President Victor. “In this case, our new cyber center is an altogether innovative environment that through design, lighting and glass aims to stimulate and inspire students studying cybersecurity as well as student employees who will be working at the center.” Keyman Asef, an instructor with the Mercyhurst Department of Interior Architecture and Design who designed the unique space, put it this way: “The sleek look of diagonal lines promotes movement Guests also heard from Mercyhurst President Michael Victor, MCPc CEO Andy Jones and Erie Insurance President and CEO Tim NeCastro, all of whom spoke to the power of partnership and how it is helping to advance their respective institutions as well as the City of Erie. Mercyhurst also welcomed a special guest in Jef Pon, director of the U.S. Ofce of Personnel Management, who had come to learn more about the university’s cybersecurity program and its facilities. Sometimes a mere adjective or two or three can’t get the job done. Even a photo can be lacking. In the case of the new MCPc Cyber Education Center at Mercyhurst University, the full import of this space can only be captured up close and in person. A gathering of more than 200 invited guests, including former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, came to see for themselves on Aug. 2 when the center ofcially opened. They were greeted frst by a presentation that included remarks by Kelly and Ridge, the frst Secretary of Homeland Security after whom the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies & Applied Sciences at Mercyhurst is named.
throughout the facility, transforming the speed of a cyber-attack into an architectural element. Diagonal glass replaces interior partitions to increase internal interaction. And the angled furniture, too, complements the overall high-tech look.” The center houses a teaching lab featuring 20 work stations. Intelligence studies majors, data science majors, students studying cybersecurity and those enrolled in the new F.W. Hirt-Erie Insurance Risk Management Program at Mercyhurst University, thought to be the frst cyber-focused risk management program in the United States, will all beneft. “The new cyber lab provides students an opportunity to experience cyber problems in real time,” explained Duncan McGill, Ridge College dean. “The environment serves as a ‘sandbox’ allowing faculty to design complex multi-variable virtual networks complete with malware problems where students gain knowledge through experiences not available in normal classroom-based network operating environments.” But that’s only the half of it. The space also houses a Security Operations Center (SOC), where 16 Mercyhurst students will be paid at industry rates to work with real MCPc clients. “We could easily have erected the walls and installed computers; instead we wanted a design that would remind people that Mercyhurst University is serious about cybersecurity and the role that it can play in our city’s resurgence,” said Cal Pifer, vice president for external relations and advancement at Mercyhurst, who has played an integral role in the project, along with David Myron, vice president for fnance and administration.
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