Office and People Directory

Brian Hall

Biography

By education and trade, he is a programmer and engineer. His academic interests are interdisciplinary. He is a technologist who chooses to think critically about technology and encourages others to do the same.

Publications & Abstracts

You can read more about my work at https://www.brianrhall.com.

You can find my code projects at https://github.com/brianrhall.

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“If you want to increase your success rate”?double your failure rate.”

—T.J. Watson

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Jim Hoag

Biography

Jim has taught Computer Science and Technology related courses for over 30 years. He was the Chair of the Department for CNCS, Forensics, and CIT until his retirement in 2017. He continues to teach occasional classes.

Publications & Abstracts

• Evolution of a Cybersecurity curriculum
• An Analysis of Academic Background Factors and Performance in Cyber Defense Competitions
• College student novice spreadsheet reasoning and errors

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Amy Keigwin

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Mariam Khader

Biography

Mariam Khader is an Assistant Professor at Champlain College, USA, who is highly recognized for her expertise in Computer Science, IT Security, and Digital Criminology. She has earned her PhD and MSc in the respective fields and is currently a researcher at the Leahy Center, where she focuses on Mobile and Operating System Forensics. Her research has been published in numerous international journals and presented at various conferences. In addition to working as a course author and speaker, Mariam has also worked as a freelance instructor, providing technical instruction to government and private firms as well as other organizations. She has obtained many professional certifications, such as CHFI, ECIH, CCNA, CCME, CCO, CMFF, CCPA, AIM, and OCF. And currently serves as a member of SWGDE.

As a professor at Champlain College, Mariam have embraced the Learning by Doing approach. By assigning students tasks that require students to learn how and why to do the task as they complete it, the tasks become more engaging and memorable, thus helping them develop essential success skills.

Publications & Abstracts

Publications & Abstracts

CV

View My CV

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

David Kopec

Biography

David Kopec joined the faculty at Champlain College in 2016 after five years in the startup world. He served both as a co-founder and as a consultant to early stage tech companies with a concentration in iOS app development. David developed a passion for computer science education which led him to author the introductory programming book “Dart for Absolute Beginners” (Apress, 2014) on Google’s emerging language. In parallel, he worked part time as adjunct faculty in New York while running his consulting practice.

David is active in the open source community as the author of several popular Swift data structure projects. He is the author of the “Classic Computer Science Problems” book series, which includes “Classic Computer Science Problems in Swift” (Manning, 2018), “Classic Computer Science Problems in Python” (Manning, 2019), and “Classic Computer Science Problems in Java” (Manning, 2020). An avid podcaster, he has served both as a guest and host on multiple podcast series. A native of New England, David has lived throughout the United States, Canada, and England. He holds an AB in Economics from Dartmouth College, an MS in Computer Science from Dartmouth, and an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business & Technology.

Publications & Abstracts

Fun Computer Science Projects in Python (2025, NoStarch)
Classic Computer Science Problems in Python (2019, Manning)
Classic Computer Science Problems in Java (2021, Manning)
Classic Computer Science Problems in Swift (2017, Manning)
Dart for Absolute Beginners (2014, Apress)

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

Kopec Explains Software podcast
Business Books & Co. podcast

Favorite Quote

“The journey is the reward.”
― Chinese Proverb

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Dean Lawson

Biography

Dean Lawson has worked in the Games Industry for nearly 30 years, primarily as a Programmer but also as a Designer, Project Lead, and Director of Programming.

He has worked on 14+ shipped titles, including SimCity Societies, Caesar IV, Majesty, Risk: Global Domination, a number of online board game conversions for Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, and World of Zoo and Club Penguin: EPF: Herbert’s Revenge on the Nintendo DS for THQ and Disney Interactive, respectively. Throughout his career, Dean has focused on game AI and how it helps shape the player experience.

Dean’s other main passion in games is Game Architecture; how to engineer flexible technical frameworks for games. Dean advises at the EMC at Champlain College, as well as working as a contract programmer for a number of game and educational companies. Dean has been teaching at Champlain College since 2010: he previously taught Game Programming and Design at Savannah College of Art and Design.

Dean Lawson earned a BS in Computer Science from Union College in Schenectady, NY and an M.Ed in Secondary School Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Joseph Letourneau

Biography

A Champlain College Alumni, Joseph Letourneau has worked on various projects in Managed Security Services Consulting, from Incident Response, Vulnerability Assessments, PCI Investigations, Security Training, and Malware Analysis.

Recommended

https://thecrashcourse.com/topic/computerscience/
https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_feynman_physics_is_fun_to_imagine
https://nnedi.com/

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”

—Carl Sagan

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Mackenzie Marsocci

Biography

Mackenzie Marsocci graduated from Champlain College in 2020 with degrees in Computer Networking & Cybersecurity and Computer & Digital Forensics. She began teaching at Champlain in 2022. She also works at NuHarbor Security as the Cyber Threat Analysis Cell (CTAC) Team Lead.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Kaitlyn Opperman

Biography

Kaitlyn graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in Computer Engineering and has recently transitioned into an instructor role, taking on adjunct work for the first time in Spring 2023. Prior to this, she worked in the aerospace industry as an embedded software engineer.

Favorite Quote

“Be kind.”

—Anyone

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Michael Opperman

Biography

Michael completed his bachelors at Wagner College and has a PhD from Clarkson University, both in mathematics. Previously, he has worked as an instructor at Clarkson University, was a student teacher at Essex High School, ran the Math Lab at Colchester high school, and was an adjunct faculty member at Champlain College. Currently, he teaches a range of courses from introductory and applied statistics to a 3D math course that explores the mathematics behind game programming at Champlain College. Regardless of the course, the focus is always on the practical applications of mathematics and how students can expect to see it in their fields of study and everyday lives.

Michael has a strong interest in pedagogy and improving the student experience in the classroom. He is an active member of Champlain College’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SotL) group and has attended workshops focused on improving his teaching. Michael devotes a great amount of time to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion both inside and outside of the classroom. He is the current chair of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender in Information, Technology, and Sciences (DIGITS) and has attended multiple Digital Humanity Summer Institutes (DHSI).

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• I believe James Tanton does a tremendous job explaining mathematical ideas in a way that is both interesting and insightful. I find his teaching style informative and inspiring.
• I find 538?to be a valuable source of information and statistical modeling that explains their mathematical reasoning quite well.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Furkan Paligu

Biography

Furkan Paligu is an assistant professor of computer networking and cybersecurity in Champlain College. He has his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Marmara University, Master’s degree in Cybersecurity Engineering from Istanbul Sehir University, and Doctorate degree in Digital and Cyber Forensics Science from Sam Houston State University. He has taken part in various information technology and cybersecurity projects in governmental institutions. An extensive part of his work has been focused on large scale projects in complex domains including data leak prevention systems, voice translation engines, customer application and management systems, static code analyzers, malware scanning systems operating on cloud architecture, electronic signature systems, and electronic cash registers.

Publications & Abstracts

PUBLICATIONS & ABSTRACTS

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

LaKysha Patnode

Biography

LaKysha Patnode holds a Master’s degree in Information Security Operations and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity, equipping her with advanced skills in protecting critical infrastructure, managing IT risks, and implementing robust security controls. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), she excels in threat assessment, regulatory compliance, and aligning cybersecurity strategies with business goals. LaKysha spent five years at NuHarbor Security as an Information Assurance Analyst and later as a supervisor, managing teams and advising clients on security programs. She is now an Assistant Professor of Computer Networking and Cybersecurity at Champlain College, where she guides the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Distinctions & Awards

CRISC Certification

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Velpula Grace Anisha Paul

Biography

Anisha Paul is as an Adjunct Professor at Champlain college and a Forensic Toxicologist for the Vermont Forensic Laboratory. Ms. Paul holds a Master’s of Science in Forensic Science degree from Arcadia University and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Microbiology from Osmania University in India. Ms. Paul is board certified as a Diplomate in Forensic Toxicology by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. At Champlain College Ms. Paul teaches the forensic science class and core classes. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and learning from her students.

Outside of the lab, Ms. Paul is an active member of the National Safety Council-Alcohol Drugs and Impairment division (NSC-ADID), Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), International Alliance of Clinical and Forensic Toxicologists (IACFT), Council of Forensic Science Educators (COFSE), and Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS), where she currently serves on the Board of Directors. When Ms. Paul isn’t working you will find her hanging out with her two cats, dog, and turtle. She loves a good beer and is still working on truly enjoying life in the tundra!

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

John Pile Jr

Biography

John Pile Jr is a Technical Director and Principal Engineering Manager at Schell Games. Previously a full-time professor for Champlain College, John now teaches as an adjunct faculty for the Game Studio.

John has a deep background in digital entertainment, video games, and interactive story-telling experiences for PCs, Mobile, Game Consoles, and specializes in MR / VR / XR. He is the author of “2D Graphics Programming for Games” and has presented at the Game Developer Conference on topics in computer graphics education.

Publications & Abstracts

2D Graphics Programming for Games

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Stephen Robinson

Biography

Dr. Stephen Robinson is a British born, Canadian raised and educated environmental geoscientist with a PhD from McGill University (2000). Since 2008 he has been working in international education in Ireland as Director and Professor at Champlain College’s Dublin Campus. Stephen previously held the Chapin Chair in Geology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. He is co-founder and board member of ASAPI, the Association of Study Abroad Providers in Ireland, and co-founder and Chair of EUASA, the European Association of Study Abroad. He is passionate about climate action and sustainability in study abroad.

Stephen recently acted as Guest Editor of a Special Issue of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. The Special Issue, due for release in early 2025, is titled US Study Abroad: The View from Europe, and features 3 papers co-authored by Robinson.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page