Neeli Bendapudi, Penn State President, and Joseph Squillace, assistant teaching professor of cybersecurity at Penn State Schuylkill, discussing the "Presidential Public Impact Research Award” (PPIRA) Squillace was awarded this past summer at the Penn State Schuylkill 90th Anniversary Celebration.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Joseph Squillace, assistant teaching professor of cybersecurity at Penn State Schuylkill, has been named the 2024-25 Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Statewide Faculty Member of the Year.
This prestigious, University-wide award honors faculty members across Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses who excel in teaching, research and outreach, and who embody the college’s mission of improving lives locally and globally. Awardees are recognized for fostering future leaders in the digital, global economy.
Squillace expressed gratitude for the recognition and credited his success to his colleagues, students and the broader Penn State community.
“I am honored to receive the 2024 Statewide Faculty Member of the Year Award from the College of IST at Penn State,” Squillace said. “This recognition reflects my dedication to advancing excellence in teaching, research, international collaboration and outreach within the Penn State community and beyond. Together with my colleagues and students, we are preparing the next generation of cybersecurity leaders and advancing research to address the challenges of tomorrow.”
Squillace’s contributions include establishing the Cybersecurity Honors Program and the National Cybersecurity Student Association at Penn State Schuylkill, as well as creating the Cybersecurity Consortium, which provides education, training and awareness to the community. His research addresses critical issues such as cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, cyberbullying, cybercrime, voting integrity, and privacy governance. Squillace has secured significant research funding, including multiple awards from Penn State and international grants, and has collaborated extensively with institutions in the Czech Republic and Hungary.
In nominating Squillace, S. Hakan Can, professor of criminal justice at Penn State Schuylkill, commended his exceptional contributions to teaching, research and service: “Dr. Squillace’s passion for cybersecurity education goes beyond the classroom. His innovative approach engages students and inspires them to apply practical solutions to real-world problems. His research and outreach have had a tangible impact on public policy and community engagement, making him an exemplary faculty member.”
Cory Scherer, interim chancellor and director of academic affairs at Penn State Schuylkill, praised Squillace’s accomplishments, saying, “Dr. Joseph Squillace has been a terrific instructor, researcher, and colleague at the Schuylkill campus. This award is well-deserved, and we are thrilled to celebrate his achievements.”
As Squillace continues his work at Penn State, his commitment to advancing cybersecurity education and research remains steadfast, he said, reflecting the college’s mission to prepare leaders for an increasingly digital world.
