Welcome From the Dean

Welcome to IS&T!

In our college, you will have the opportunity to explore your interest in technology. Faculty are leading scholars in their fields who will provide you with many opportunities to engage with the latest advances in the information technology field. They are experts in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Bioinformatics, and IT innovation among many others. Their work has a direct impact on many aspects of our lives. Analysis of big data, for example, has helped assess the structural health of bridges. They have developed tools to protect the safety of critical physical and information infrastructure. They have collaborated with entities in the city and the nation to design user-friendly interfaces and develop solutions for issues such as urban food deserts and STEM education. The college is also one of the few in the nation designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), recognition for our deep technical and inter-disciplinary cybersecurity offerings.

Our students have ample opportunities to practice their skills in class and through internships. The college has unparalleled opportunities because of its unique location. Omaha is the home of the USSTRATCOM, one of only 11 Unified combatant commands of the Department of Defense, which employs cyber, electronic warfare, and intelligence capabilities to deter hostile aggression. Omaha is also host to several Fortune 500 and tech-intensive private and public entities.

These include leading companies in their fields such as Fiserv (fintech), the Scott Data Center (data security and storage), Mutual of Omaha (insurance), Union Pacific Railroad (logistics), and Blue Cross Blue Shield (health insurance), allowing us to place more than 80% of our students in internships while studying, and employment after graduation.

The faculty are committed to your education and have developed state of the art curriculum with practical, hands-on problem-solving experiences. Our classrooms provide a supportive environment where you will be engaged in innovative work with many opportunities for you to be inspired, grow, and flourish. Our students, for example, developed Covid-19 spread simulations, modified a vehicle for self-driving, worked with faculty to develop an app to help identify glaucoma, and created communities of developers in the region. They also have opportunities to go abroad thanks to the partnerships we have established with international institutions.

The college is also committed to STEM education. Every summer, dozens of middle and high school students from diverse populations come to the campus to participate in forums, mentoring programs, internships, and camps, such as GenCyber and Code Crush, that expose them to the magic of computing and information technology applications.

The IS&T staff is a dedicated and caring team that has your interests at heart. They work individually with all our students to help them thrive at the college. You will find a welcoming, caring, and inclusive environment. Your time with us will be challenging but inspiring and rewarding, providing you with the expertise to thrive in the dynamic field of information technology.

Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D.
College of Information Science & Technology