The_Ticker

Christopher Ramezan

A Test Above the Rest

A Test Above the Rest

When it comes to the cybersecurity industry, the CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional – is one of the most sought after certifications individuals can receive. In fact, in Britain, the CISSP certification counts as a masters degree. That is how prestigious it is. 

Within the last two years at Chambers College, we have had three students take this exam and pass it. While it is a valued certificate to have, it is not an easy one to pass. Chris Ramezan, a teaching assistant professor of Management Information Systems and Cybersecurity, said it is not only a personal achievement for those students, but it is also one for our faculty who have helped prep and coach our students through coursework and additional study groups. “It is a very tough exam with very high stakes,” said Ramezan. “Students typically take two years to prepare for it. We wanted to make sure our students had the tools they needed, so we hosted a study group for those who were planning on taking it.” Andy Pritt, a 2020 masters of science in Business Cybersecurity Management graduate said he was grateful that the College helped him prepare for the exam. “Before I took the exam, everything that I had read about it online said that I would feel like I was failing it while I was taking it, and that was definitely true. It was the hardest exam I have ever taken, by a long shot. I honestly couldn’t believe it when the first word on the paper read “Congratulations”, said Pritt. Having students enrolled in our cybersecurity program, and graduating with the knowledge and skills needed to pass the CISSP exam (and others such as, Network+, Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst+ (CySA+), AWS Cloud certifications and more) is just one of the ways our College is raising the bar for future cybersecurity professionals. 

Tipping Points

Here’s a tip for New York City taxi drivers seeking bigger tips: Pick up tourists. Adam Nowak, associate professor of economics, and Amir B. Ferreira Neto, ’19, PhD Economics, studied data on yellow taxis in the Big Apple to see if tourists tipped more than locals. They do. Furthermore, theatergoers tip more than non-theatergoers, based on their findings that zeroed-in on drop-offs and pickups near Broadway. These differences between tourists and locals may affect the allocation of taxis throughout the city, conclude Nowak, Neto and Amanda Ross, of the University of Alabama.

Read Article

A Divine Business Plan

Religiosity can help turn believers into entrepreneurs, according to Nancy McIntyre, associate professor of management at the Chambers College. A study by McIntrye found that when religiosity is more than attending a place of worship — “when it’s a commitment to religious principles and activities” — it strengthens the desire to create a business with a conscience. 

Read Article

The Economics of Ergonomics

A Chambers College student can become anything. Like his father before him, Economics Ph.D. graduate Perry Ferrell became a carpenter.

Read Article

Celebrating in Style

When COVID-19 hit, many faculty members were left learning virtual tools and hoping for some good news. Our Associate Professor of Marketing, Dr. Laurel Cook, did both. Cook receiving the news of her award of tenure was both exciting and joyful – a rainbow over the year 2020. While she could not throw the celebration party she had always wanted out of respect for our state’s COVID-19 restrictions, she did throw a one-of-a-kind photo session to share her news. “As a first-generation faculty member, this achievement is a reflection of the support and encouragement of my family,” said Cook. “Plus, this award bodes well for future generations in my family, and I am also incredibly grateful to West Virginia University and Chambers College.”

Read Article

Frank Fumich: Mountain Man

Chambers College alumnus Frank Fumich no longer lives in West Virginia, but he’s still called to the mountains – specifically, Mount Everest. 

Read Article