The Speakers
Dr. Jamal Scott
VP of Undergraduate Studies and
Dean of the Undergraduate College
Dr. Jamal Scott serves as the Vice President of Undergraduate Studies and Dean of the Undergraduate College. Dr. Scott brings over 25 years of higher education experience to the institution, including several leadership roles.
He is a graduate scholar for Northern Illinois University, serving on dissertation committees and as an adjunct instructor for the Ed.D. in Higher Education program. He is also an active adjunct instructor for the National Louis University Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership program in the National College of Education, where he developed the HED 622 course in Strategic Enrollment Management.
Dr. Scott holds has a certificate in marketing strategy from Cornell University, an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, a Master of Public Administration degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Meagan Esposito is a Career Advisor for undergraduate Business Administration, Computer Science & Information Systems, Communications students and degree completers in the
Management program. She has an energetic and thoughtful personality which allows her to connect well with the students she serves. Meagan has been involved with students pursing Higher Education for 10 years in roles as an Admissions Counselor,
Student Advisor, Scholarship Program Coordinator and now as a Career Advisor. She is passionate about providing opportunities for students and being a resource for education advancement.
Meagan holds a B.A. in Education.
Meagan Esposito
Career Advisor
Sigue Pa’Lante/ Keep Pushing Forward: Minorities in Tech Panel
Alexis Aranda is an experienced designer at Signet Jewelers, the corporate owner behind renowned jewelry brands like Kay, Jared, and Zales. In my role, I collaborate closely with the Product Management team to introduce enhancements to the Point of Sale system utilized by in-store Jewelry Consultants.
My journey into user experience design began at Valtech, a digital agency, where I honed my skills and delved into projects for top retail brands. From revolutionizing the digital shopping experience for Shoe Carnival to elevating the online presence of Wine Rack and Hobby Lobby, and creating a comprehensive design system for SC Johnson, my tenure at Valtech was marked by innovation and creativity.
Outside of design, you can catch me exploring art through drawing, going on bike rides, or eating some tacos.
Alexis Aranda
Experience Designer
Signet Jewelers
Jeremy is the Mobile Development Team Lead at AMI Entertainment Network, leading a group of 4 mobile developers across both iOS and Android platforms. As a team lead his role consists of both interfacing with the business for app design and feature planning, as well as the design, architecture, and development of 8 apps; two of which have over 2 million downloads. Jeremy has been developing software for 8 years, starting with web for 2 years (as a software consultant), then transitioning to C# Windows apps, until finally finding his niche in mobile development for the last 4 years.
Jeremy graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. His work ethic and leadership is characterized by joy, ambition, and unity. His passion is to see teams thriving, individuals flourishing, and apps scaling in excellence.
Jeremy Sullivan
Mobile Development
Team Lead,
Senior Software Engineer
Leslie J. Bacajol
IT Support Technician II
Power Plant Services
Leslie is a dynamic IT professional with a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems from National Louis University. With seven years of experience at Aspira Charter Schools, they honed their skills from intern to IT Helpdesk administrator, adeptly troubleshooting issues and providing vital support.
Currently serving as a Support Technician II at Power Plant Services, Leslie continues to excel in delivering technical assistance and implementing innovative solutions. Their proactive approach to professional development ensures they stay ahead of industry trends, making them an invaluable asset in the fast-paced world of information technology.
The Evolution of the Cyber Attack: From Prankish Pranks to Global Pandemics
George Young is a seasoned cybersecurity leader at the forefront of today's evolving threat landscape. As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Technologist for CB Technologies, he spearheads the development and implementation of robust security measures that safeguard critical infrastructure.
His expertise spans various domains, including network security, information security governance and risk management, cryptographic solutions, security architecture and design, and compliance management with stringent regulations. Beyond his technical prowess, George has a proven track record of leading teams and driving innovation in his senior security roles at Fortune 100 companies across diverse industries.
An active contributor to the security community, he engages as a Technical Ambassador for leading organizations and even develops advanced technical certification programs to empower future generations of cybersecurity professionals. George holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Systems from Northwestern University, equipping him with a deep understanding of complex technological systems and a strategic vision to tackle the ever-changing world of cyber threats.
George Young
Chief Information
Security
Officer CB Technologies,
Inc.
AI in Academia: Partnering with AI for Transformative Learning
Dr. Antonio Tovar
Assistant Professor
National Louis University
Dr. Antonio Tovar is an educator with over 20 years
of experience in the instruction of
technology, management, leadership, and ethics.
His track record includes instructional expertise in Organizational and Management Theory,
Systems Theory, Data and Voice Communications, Operating Systems (Linux & Windows),
Networking (Cisco Switching & Routing),
Project Management, Application Development (C++, Python, Databases), Data Analytics (Python, R, Jupyter) and Cloud Computing (MS Azure & AWS). Dr. Tovar is an Information Technology leader with substantial experience in corporate information business technical strategies and methodologies in leveraging technology and infrastructure resources for the delivery of enterprise technology solutions.
Game Dev AI Hacks (Low cost or Free)
James Cottrell III, a well-traveled technology instructor in Chicago, currently served as an adjunct instructor at several for-profit schools including city colleges of chicago for over 15 years. He developed Project Fly approximately six years ago with an initial team of 20 developers; several of whom were his former students from his tenure at Sanford-Brown College.
Today, Cottrell is the founder of two companies Quake Technology Inc and Quake Studios LLC, both of which are vehicles for youth and adults in the urban setting. Quake Technology Inc. is a Mobile Application Development, Digital Content Marketing, and Augmented Reality firm. Quake Studios LLC is the company that produces in house mobile video games, feature films, and 3D animation.
James “Quake” Cottrell III
Chief Executive Officer
Quake Technology Inc
Building Your Portfolio/Resume Website with ChatGPT
Dr. Lisa English-Dowdell
Web Design and Development
Consultant & Adjunct Professor
National Louis University
With over 30 years of experience in information technology, Dr. Lisa English-Dowdell has gained extensive knowledge in managing teams, developing software systems, and delivering web-based solutions to various clients. Dr. Dowdell currently serves as an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses in web development and web design concepts.
Before her teaching career, Dr. Dowdell served as Director of Application Development Services at Preferred Risk Insurance Services, managing teams in developing and implementing user interface components for web-based applications.
Previously, Dr. Dowdell worked for the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Cook County Sheriff's Office. She managed teams of developers, designed and developed web and mobile applications, and served in several leadership roles.
Dr. Dowdell's education includes a Doctor of Information Technology specializing in General Information Technology, a Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - System Development: Web Application.
2024 program schedule
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Check-in and Continental Breakfast
2nd Floor Atrium
9:30 AM - 9:50 AM
Introduction and Welcome Remarks:
Dr. Jamal Scott
2nd Floor, Atrium
9:50 AM - 10:50 AM
Sigue Pa’ Lante/Keep Pushing Forward: Minorities in Tech Panel
2nd Floor, Atrium
Morning Breakout Sessions:
· Session 1: Group Mock Interviews with Panelist
(4012-4014)
· Session 2: The Evolution of the Cyber Attack:
From Prankish Pranks to Global Pandemics - George Young (4050)
· Session 3: AI in Academia: Partnering with AI for Transformative Learning- Faisal Abbas and Dr. Antonio Tovar
(4020-4022)
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Lunch/Tech Project Showcase (Facilitator: Ines)
2nd Floor Atrium
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
· Session 1: Game Dev AI Hacks (Low cost or Free) James Cottrell- (4012-4014)
· Session 2: Building Your Portfolio/Resume Website with ChatGPT
Dr.Lisa English-Dowdell (4020-4022)
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
Closing Remarks and Conference Raffle (Atrium)
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Student Tech Project Showcase
Dhruvil Prajapati
The Story of U.S Fuel Economy Unveiled by
Machine Learning
Senior
Cierra Crosby
SetIToffRemakeGame
Senior
Atabek Kubanychbek uulu
SewSmart
Junior
Luan Nguyen
NLUinvolde UX/UI Case Study
Senior
America Munoz
Predicting the Survival of Passengers Aboard the Titanic
Senior
LOCATION
Address
122 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
csis symposium planning
Robyn Moncrief
Department Chair of Computer Science and Information Systems
Inés Sahagún-Bahena
Director of El Centro de Excelencia
Maria Palafox
HSI Student and Community Engagement Manager
Monica Jendzio-Reyes
Employer Relations Manager
Meagan Esposito
Undergraduate Career Advisor
Sevtap Guldur
Career Advisor/Employer Relations Manager
Aiperi Moldobaeva
CSIS Symposium Web Design Intern
For questions contact Maria Palafox
at Mpalafox@nl.edu