Dean's Welcome
The College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) is a college at Penn State dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders for the digital 21st century. We utilize a student-centric, problem-based learning approach with continuous updates to our curriculum based on rapid evolution in information technology research, practice and applications.
Our undergraduate and graduate students are highly creative and, as an integral part of their education, work on real-world problems received from industry, government and non-government agencies. IST students have participated in international relief activities such as working with the Ministry of Education at Grenada and repairing computers damaged by hurricane Ivan, designing and implementing healthcare solutions for rural Africa, winning national competitions sponsored by Google, supporting the U. S. Department of Defense in understanding how the new generation of digital natives collaborate and solve problems, and placing in the top ten (out of 3800 competing teams) of a national competition funded by the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA). In 2010, one of our graduates, David Rusenko, received the Penn State Alumni Achievement Award based on his success in starting an internationally-recognized company; a project he started as a junior in an IST course. Our graduates obtain challenging and well-paying jobs in all sectors of industry and the government.
IST research and education is motivated by the fact that human enterprises are increasingly fueled by and dependent upon vast flows of information. Information systems, are all around us. Cell phones, smart cards, embedded micro-chips, nano-scale sensing devices are ubiquitous and invisible computers have become embedded in everything from appliances to automobiles. Information technology enables world-wide connectivity using social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, YouTube and Twitter, creating opportunities for people throughout the world to be connected in dynamic social networks. The same technology also enables identify theft, anonymous cyber-bullying and coordination of criminal and terrorist activities.
Whether you are a prospective student, currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, a potential partner, or a colleague from another discipline or institution, I invite you to learn more about us by taking the time to browse our web site and contacting us for further information.
-IST Dean David Hall
