SPRING 2025
DEAN’S INTRODUCTION
From the Dean:
Ithasbeenanotherdynamicandexcitingyearofgrowthand transformationforourprograms. OurMechanical,Mechatronic, andGeneralEngineeringdegreeprogramsofficiallylaunchedin August2024,andtheinauguralcohortisnowconcludingtheir firstyear.EarlyindicatorssuggestthattheincomingAugust 2025cohortwillbeevenlarger—weareexcitedtowelcome thesenewstudentstocampussoon.
Planningforournewmakerspaceisnearingcompletion. Renovationsarescheduledoverthesummer,andequipmentis alreadyonordertoensurethespaceisfullyfunctionalbyAugust 2025.Thisfacilitywillplayacriticalroleinsupportinghands-on learningandinnovationacrossdisciplines.
Thecontinuedexpansionofouracademicprogramshasdriventheneedfornewfacultyacrossmultiple areas.RecenthiresincludeadditionstoMathematicalSciences,ComputerScience,andMechanical Engineering.Notably,theMechanicalEngineeringprogramhaswelcomedbothafoundingdepartment chairandanadditionalfacultymember.WearethrilledtohavethemjoinusthisAugustastheycontinue shapinganinnovativecurriculumdesignedtopursueABETaccreditationfollowingthegraduationofthe firstcohort.
Overthepastyear,weformallypursuedABETaccreditationforthreeofourprograms:Electrical Engineering,ComputerEngineering,andComputerScience.Whilethefinaldecisionwillbeannouncedat thecommission’smeetinginJuly,wearehighlyconfidentthatthenexteditionofthisnewsletterwillshare theexcitingnewsthataccreditationhasbeenofficiallygranted.
Michael Oudshoorn Dean, Webb School of Engineering
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS:
Honoring Our Retiring Faculty
Dr.McCulloughisretiringfromtheDepartmentofElectrical andComputerEngineering,wheresheservedasthe foundingdepartmentchair.InhersixyearsatHPU,she playedapivotalrolein
developingthedepartment’sprogramsandensuringthey metABETaccreditationstandards.Herleadershipand preparationwereinstrumentalduringthesuccessfulsite visitthispastOctober.Herimpactwillcontinuetobenefit studentsandfacultyforyearstocome.
After37yearsofdedicatedservicetoComputerScienceatHigh PointUniversity,Mr.Shoreisretiring.Generationsofstudentsand alumniwillnodoubtrememberhisrigorousclassesandhigh expectations—alongwiththedeepknowledgeandcriticalthinking skillstheygainedintheprocess.Mr.Shore’scommitmentto excellencehasshapedthecareersofcountlessgraduates,andhis legacywillcontinuetobefeltformanyyearstocome.
Ms.O’ConnorisretiringfromtheDepartmentofMathematical Sciencesafter16yearsofservice.Aspecialistinintroductory mathematicsandstatistics,shehastaughtstudentsfromnearly everymajoroncampus.Herabilitytomakecomplexmathematical conceptsaccessibleandengaginghasleftalastingimpressionon manystudents;asignificantproportionofwhomtooktheirfirst collegemathcoursewithher.
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS: COMPUTER SCIENCE
Message from the Chair
TheDepartmentofComputerSciencehascontinueditsupward trajectorythisyear,markedbygrowthinstudentenrollment,strategic facultyhires,excitingacademicdevelopments,andoutstandingstudent accomplishments EnrollmentinbothComputerScienceand Cybersecurityremainsstrong,andthiscontinueddemandhasenabled thedepartmenttomakethreenewfacultyhiresforthe2025–26 academicyear.Thesehiresareexpandingourexpertise,particularlyin thefieldofArtificialIntelligence,andhaveledtoanexcitingevolutionin ourcurriculum.
Competes in U.S. Cyber Challenge
BeginninginAugust2026,theB.S.inDataSciencewilltransitionto becometheB.S.inArtificialIntelligenceandDataScience.Thischange reflectstheprogram’sgrowingemphasisonAI-poweredapproachesto large-scaledataanalysis,andrepresentsanaturalnextstepforthe disciplin AsmentionedintheDean’sintroduction,thedepartment formallypursuedABETaccreditationforboththeB.S.inComputer ScienceandtheB.S.inComputerSciencewithaconcentrationin Cybersecuritythispastyear.Theaccreditationreviewvisitoccurredin October2024,withthefinaldecisionexpectedinJuly2025.
Accreditationisarigorousprocess,andIextendmysincerethankstoall facultymemberswhocontributedtothismilestoneeffort.The dedication,collaboration,andteamworkdisplayedthroughoutthe processhavebeentrulycommendable.
MichaelOudshoorn Chair,ComputerScience
GiovanniCentofanti,asenior cybersecuritymajor,wasselectedto competeintheU.S.CyberChallenge (USCC),whichservesasthepremier programtoidentify,attract,train, recruitandplacethenextgeneration ofcybersecurityprofessionalsinto theworkforce.
Centofantiwasoneof200students selectedtoattendafour-daycamp, wheretheyweregroupedintoteams offourforaneight-hourcapture-theflag(CTF)competition.Histeamwon firstplacefortheWesternregional, andthetopthreeteamsadvancedto theU.S.CyberBowl,a24-hourCTF competitioninWashington,D.C. Centofanti’steamfinishedinsecond place.
Student Team Earns National Cybersecurity Ranking
HPUstudentscoachedbyRogerShore,anassociateprofessorofcomputerscience,recentlyachievedtheuniversity’s highestteamrankingataNationalCyberLeague(NCL)competitionwhentheyplaced43rdattheFall2024 competition.HPUhasparticipatedsince2022intheNCLcompetitionthatcontainsreal-worldcybersecuritytasks thatprofessionalsperformdaily.HPU’sstudentsearnedanoverallrankingof63rdfortheirperformancein individualandotherevents.ThenationalCyberPowerRankingsincludedmorethan9,260studentsfrommorethan 550collegesanduniversities.TheNCLhelpstoreinforcewhatstudentshavelearnedaboutcybersecurityand developtheirnecessaryskillsfortheworkforce.Theyalsoearnaskillsreportthatrecognizestheirabilitiesand demonstratestheirjobreadinesstoemployers.
“ThisnationwidecompetitionmakesitpubliclyknownthatHighPointUniversityoffersanexcellentdegreein cybersecurity,”Shoresaid.“Companieswilltakenoticeofthestudentsthatdowellinthecompetition.”
StudentsColeApke,GiovanniCentofanti,DannyTandet,HollyBlack,AmirHamidpourandRebeccaBoorsewere recognizedfortheiroutstandingperformance.MembersofthesecondHPUteamwereDillonPeed,AnileyGarcia, KamrynWagnerandGiannaHassig. HPUstudents’collaborativeeffortanddedicationtothecompetitionisworthy ofpraise,saidNCLCommissionerDavidZelchick.
“ItiswithourhighestrecommendationthatstudentsfromHighPointUniversityberecognizedfortheiradmirable achievementthatshowcasedtheirindividualskills,collaborativeperformanceanddesiretogrowandlearnas cybersecurityprofessionals,”Zelchicksaid.“WewouldalsorecommendtherecognitionofProfessorRogerShorefor hisdedication,supportandencouragementthathasenabledthesuccessofthestudentsfromHighPointUniversity.”
Students Awarded for Research Presentations
TTwoHPUcomputeranddata sciencestudentswonawards fortheirresearchpresentations attheMid-SoutheastRegional ConferenceonNov.14-16, 2024,inGatlinburg,Tennessee. Undergraduatestudentshad theoptiontopresenttheir researchwithaposterora paperattheconference.
AlexaDandrea,aseniordual majorincomputerscienceand mathematics,wonsecondplace forherposterpresentation, “MeasuringtheQualityofCode GeneratedbyAIPlatforms.”She saidtheexperienceof presentingresearchwillhelp withherfutureeducationand careerplans.
“Receivingacknowledgement formyeffortandthepassion thatIhaveforthetopic providesencouragementand motivationformetocontinue myresearch,”saidDandrea, whoisfromSummerville,South Carolina.“Itshowsmethat whatIamdoingisimportant andcanhaveanimpactonthe fieldofcomputerscience.Iplan oncontinuingmyeducationin graduateschool,andsohaving thisexperienceinpresenting myownresearchwillbegreat inpreparingtodefendmy thesis."
KyNguyen,aseniormajoringindatasciencewith minorsinmathematicsandeconomics,earnedthird placeforherpaperpresentation,“OptimizedThreeLayerHyperspectralImageClassificationModel.”
“TheskillsIdevelopedthroughpresentingmy researchwillbenefitmeingraduateschoolandthe workforce,helpingmecommunicateeffectivelyand presentmyknowledge,”saidNguyen,whoisfrom HighPoint.“Additionally,thenetworking opportunitieshavegivenmeinsightintothe perspectivesoffellowstudentsandintroducedmeto theworkbeingdoneintherealworldandin graduatestudies.”
HPUalumnaRebeccaBoorse,whograduatedin December2024,andstudentsAshCorcoran,Owen KellyandSamZitoalsopresentedtheirresearch duringtheconference.
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS: MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
Message from the Chair
by Dr. Jenny Sharpe
HellofromtheDepartmentofMathematicalSciences!It’sbeenabusy yearinourdepartment,aswefocusonrecruitingstudentstoour majorsandbuildingcommunityamongourmajors.
Thisyear,ourstudentshavebeeninvolvedwithconferenceson campus,datacompetitions,researchendeavorswithfaculty,and internshipsaroundthecountry.Ofcourse,thisisallwhiletheywork hardinsidetheclassroom.Also,we’vebeenpleasedtowelcome mathematicalsciencesalumnibacktothedepartmenttoengagewith currentstudents,andwelookforwardtocontinuingthistraditionin yearstocome.
Asthisacademicyearcloses,wewillbesaying“happyretirement!”toMs.PatO’Connor,avaluedinstructor inourdepartment.Pathasbeenteachingmathandstatisticsfor40years,wehavebeenfortunatethatlast16 ofthosehavebeenatHPU.Wewillmissher,andwewishhertheverybestinretirement.
Inotherfacultynews,inJanuary,wewelcomedMs.JuliaChristmantoourfaculty.Juliajoinedusfrom BaldwinWallaceUniversityinOhio.Welcome,Julie!Pleasereachouttomeatjsharpe1@highpoint.eduwith opportunitiesorideasrelatedtomathematics,mathematicaleconomics,actuarialscience,ordataanalytics andstatistics.I’dlovetohearfromyou!
Dr. Jenny Sharpe
Dr.
Jenny Sharpe
Chair and Professor of Mathematical Sciences
The Actuarial Exam Process – by Annie Sellenberg
By Annie Sellenberg
Thereisnoshortcuttosuccessintheactuarialexamprocess.Hardwork, commitment,andperseveranceareallnecessarytopushthroughthemany hoursofindependentstudythatarerequiredtoprepareforeachofthe exams.Theactuarialexamsarethegroundworkforsolidifyingacareer pathasanactuaryandtobeastrongcandidateforinternshipsandfulltimejobs.
ThroughoutmytwosummerinternshipsatZurichInsurance,passingexamswasnotjustencouragedbutexpectedfor advancement,andevenpassingoneexamshowsemployersthatyou’reserious,capable,andreadytohandlecomplex analyticalworkintheindustryandcontributeatahigherlevel.IhadtoshowIwascapableofhandlingtherigorous contentandtimecommitmentthattheexamsrequiredtogrowwithinthefieldandearnrespectamongprofessionals. HavingstudiedforandpassedbothExamFM(FinancialMathematics)andExamP(Probability),Icanconfidentlysaythat theprocesswasdemanding,bothintellectuallyandemotionally.Balancingafullcourseloadasadoublemajor,part-time work,andstudyingforexamsrequiredmetoplanaheadandremaindisciplined,evenwhenmymotivationtankwas empty.TherewerecountlesstimesIneededtosaynotosocialeventsorscalebackonotheractivitiestostudy.There werealsocountlesstimeswhenIdidn’tgraspaconceptrightawayandhadtoslowdown,reviewcoreconceptsagain,and givemyselfsomegrace.Ihadtopracticepatience-thematerialrequiredrepeatedexposureovertime,andonlytime wouldallowmetounderstandandretaintheinformation.Ilearnedtheimportanceofsteppingbacktoremaincentered andavoidburnout,whichultimatelyhelpedmeprogress.
Therewardingmomentwhenyoureceivethe“passingslip”isanunmatchedfeeling.Itgavemetheboostofconfidence thatIneededandvalidatedalltheeffortIhadputinformonths.Thetypicalcandidatestudiesabout100hoursforevery houroftheexam-thatequatesto250hoursforExamFMand300hoursforExamP.Havingtheexamsundermybelt madeadifferenceinhowIwasviewedasacandidate,anditgavemeacompetitiveedgethroughoutmyinternshipsat ZurichInsurance.Notonlythat,buttheexamsreaffirmedtomethatIamcapableofhandlingthechallengesassociated withacareerinactuarialscienceandanalyticalroles.
Actuariesareself-drivenindividualswhothriveoffchallengesandopportunitiestogrow.Forthoseplanningtositfor actuarialexams,buildastudyscheduleaheadoftimeandtreatitasanadditionalcourseatschool.Putinthestudyhours andholdyourselfaccountable,butallowforadjustmentsalongtheway.Consistencymattersmorethanintensity. Prioritizecomprehendingthecontentratherthanconcentratingonmemorizingproceduresorformulas.Butaboveall, remaingrounded.Remainingawell-roundedhumanalongthewaymattersmorethanapassinggradeonanactuarial exam,andit’sokaytotakeabreakwhenneeded.Progressisn’talwayslinear,butifyoukeeppushingforward,
High Point hosts Mathematical Association of America Southeastern Conference
By Dr. Jenny Sharpe
Duringour2025springbreak,mathematicalsciencesfacultyand studentswerehardatworkpreparingtohosttheMathematical AssociationofAmericaSoutheast(MAA-SE)conference.This conferenceisagatheringofmathematicsandstatisticsfaculty andstudentsfroma5-stateregion,andthe2025gathering broughtover300gueststoHPU’scampusduringthesecond weekendofHPU’sspringbreak.
Someofourmathematicalsciencesmajorscuttheirspringbreak earlytocomebackfortheconference.Theyparticipatedina MathJeopardy!competition,attendedresearchtalks,andsome presentedtheirownresearchwork.Theyalsomadeconnections withstudentsfromotherschoolfromaroundtheregion.
Dr. Adam Pennell
Ourfacultyteamworkedhardtoorganizealltheweekend’s logisticstoensureconferenceparticipantshadagoodexperience onourcampus.Alumnireadingthisnotemayrecalla longstandingtraditionofattendingtheMAA-SEconferencein yearspast.Thistraditionwaspausedforafewyearsdueto COVID,butwearepleasedtohaveitrenewed.Ourstudentsare alreadytalkingaboutthetripnextyear.
FACULTY FEATURE
Dr. Brielle Spencer-Tyree
Dr.BrielleSpencer-TyreeisanAssistantProfessorinMathematics. Sheispassionateaboutteachingstatisticalliteracyagainbecause it’sincrediblyrelevantintoday’sworld. Statisticalliteracyhelps studentslearnhowtocriticallyinterpretandquestionthat informationempowersthemtomakeinformeddecisions,notjust inacademics,butineverydaylife.
1. What motivated you to choose your field of practice and what do you enjoy about it?
Iprimarilyteachgeneraleducation mathematicscourses,mostoftenTheMath ofLifeandStatisticalLiteracy.Ienjoy teachingtheseclassesbecauseIhavethe opportunitytoworkwithstudentswho mayonlytakeonecollege-levelmathcourse andwhomightnotbeginwithapositive viewofthesubject.It’srewardingto introducethemtomathematicalideasthat areoftenentirelynewandpotentially transformativefortheirperspectiveon math.
2. What are your current research interests? Thisalsoconnectstomyresearch,which broadlyfocusesonhowvariousclassroom interventionsandexperiencescaninfluence bothstudents’understandingof mathematicalconceptsandtheirattitudes towardmathematics.
3. What are you most excited about in regards to the upcoming semester?
I’mexcitedaboutteachingstatisticalliteracyagain becauseit’sincrediblyrelevantintoday’sworld. We’reconstantlysurroundedbynewsheadlines, polls,studies,anddata-drivenclaims.Statistical literacyhelpsstudentslearnhowtocritically interpretandquestionthatinformation empowersthemtomakeinformeddecisions,not justinacademics,butineverydaylife.
4. Do you have any hobbies/interests outside of work that you would like to share?
Outside of work I enjoying hanging out with my three dogs, cooking for those I love, and playing pickleball
5. If you could go back in time, what, if anything, would you do differently as a student?
Asacollegeathlete,Ifillednearlyeveryminuteof mydaywithpractices,classes,andstudying,soifI couldgobackintime,Iwouldmakemoretimeto slowdownabit.WhileI’mproudofthediscipline andtimemanagementIdeveloped,I’vesince learnedhowimportantitistocarveouttimeto restandrecharge.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Cole Apke
B.S Computer Science 2025
1. What are you studying at HPU?
IamstudyingComputerSciencewithaconcentrationin Cybersecurity.
2. Why did you choose HPU?
Beforemyfreshmanyear,Ivisitedseveralschools,butwhatfirst drewmetoHPUwasthebeautyofthecampus.Ilovedthe scenery;itwasoneofthefewplacesIcouldtrulyseemyself enjoyingeveryday.Duringmyvisits,thepeopleImetmademe feellikemorethanjustanumber,whichreallystoodout.Ialso discoveredthatCouchHall,whereI’dbespendingmostofmy timestudying,wasequippedwithsomeofthemostadvanced technologyinthecountry.
3. What interests do you have outside of your major?
I’mabigsportsfan,especiallyfootballand basketball.Ilovewatchinggames,keepingup withtheteams,especiallyourbasketballand sportsteams,andstayingactivemyself.Imakeit aprioritytostayinshapebygoingtothegym, lifting,andrunningregularly.Whileit’ssomewhat connectedtomymajor,Igenuinelyenjoy competingincybersecuritycompetitions.
4. What are some of the challenges that you have faced or overcome this semester?
Sincethisismylastsemesterbeforegraduatingin afewweeks,thebiggestchallengehasdefinitely beenmyfinalcapstoneproject.It'sdesignedto demonstrateeverythingwe'velearnedoverthe lastfouryears,anditreallypushedme.The projectrequiredusingcodinglanguagesIwasn't deeplyfamiliarwith,soIessentiallyhadto“speed run”learningthem,divingintodocumentation, tutorials,andsometimestrial-and-error, especiallywhendebugging.
5. What do you hope to do with your degree when you graduate?
IlooktostartintheI.T.andcybersecurityfield. Mydreamjoboutofcollegeistobecomea CybersecurityEngineer.Iwanttobuildandassess securesystemsandkeepacompany'sdigital footprintsafefromoutsiders.
6. Are you involved in any activities on campus? In what capacity?
Ihavebeeninvolvedinthecomputer scienceclubthathasbeenfocusedon cybersecurityandethicalhacking.We havecompetedinacoupleof competitionsandplacingwellagainst biggerschoolsandUniversities.Iwas alsoVice-presidentofthisclubfora while.Ihavealsoplayedintramural sportssuchasbasketballforall4yearsI havebeenhere.
7. What advice would you like to share with your peers or with future students?
Thereisnolimittowhatyoucandohere.There areampleopportunitiestomakeanamefor yourselfandanamefortheschool.Thisplaceis growingrapidlywhetheryouseeitornot.There isalsonothingyoucan’tdowithsomehardwork andtalkingtoacoupleofpeople.Professors, faculty,andpeersherearesoanxioustohelpand seeyouthrive.Professorswantnothingbutthe bestforyouandtosharetheirvastbasinsof knowledgewiththeyoungergeneration.Soakit allinandenjoytheexperiencehere,it'sunlike anyother.Besides,those4yearsgobyfast,you don’twanttomissit.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Ash Corcoran
B.S COMPUTER SCIENCE, 2025
1. What are you studying at HPU?
I'mmajoringinComputerSciencewithaminorinNeuroscience.
2. Why did you choose HPU?
IchoseHPUbecauseItrulybelievethatsmallclasssizesandcloseinteraction withprofessorsareessentialtoagreateducation.Oneofmyfavoritethings abouttheComputerSciencedepartmentishowclose-knititis—I'vealwaysfelt comfortabledroppingbyaprofessor'sofficewithquestionsorideas.
3. What interests do you have outside of your major? Outsideofacademics,Ilovetogardenanddo pottery.SinceIspendsomuchtimeinfrontof screens,Itrytogetoutsideandbecreative wheneverIcan.
4. What are some of the challenges that you have faced or overcome this semester?
Thissemesterhasbeenespeciallybusy—I'vebeen jugglingclasses,work,andpreparingforlifeafter graduation.Timemanagementhasdefinitelybeen achallenge!
5. What do you hope to do with your degree when you graduate?
Mypost-gradplanhasalwaysbeentoworkasan AIdeveloper,asmyresearchhasfocusedon machinelearning.Fortunately,Ihadagreatchat overcoffeewithoneofourInnovatorsin Residence,JinanGlasgowGeorge,aboutthefuture ofAIandintellectualproperty.Thatconversation ledtoajoboffer,andIjoinedhercompany,Patent Forecast,asanAISoftwareEngineerinJanuary. AsofMarch,I’vebeenpromotedtoCTO,andI’llbe continuingfulltimeaftergraduation!
6. Are you involved in any activities on campus?In what capacity
Oncampus,I’vehadthechancetogetinvolvedin severalways.IservedasPresidentoftheHPU MindsClub(AKAtheWozProject)fortwoyears, whereIledprojectslikeusingaBrain-Machine Interfacetocontrolarobot.WhileI’vesince passedonthatrole,IcontinuetoserveasaSenior ResidentAssistant,supervisingFinch,Millis,and WilsonHalls.Supportingthefreshmen communitieshasbeenoneofthemostrewarding partsofmytimeatHPU
7. What advice would you like to share with your peers or with future students?
Mybiggestpieceofadvice?Takeadvantageofthe manyincredibleresourcesandopportunitiesHPU offers.I’vebeenluckytoworkonmeaningful projectsandevenfindmydreamjob—justby sayingyesandputtingmyselfoutthere.
