91ÁÔÆæ wins award for technology innovation
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) was honored as the winner of the Atlanta Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Innovative Driven Company of the Year in the Government, Nonprofit and Education sector at a March 29 banquet. The award application focused on the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation, home to the Mike Cottrell College of Business, and the programs in the college.
"We are honored to be recognized by Atlanta TAG for our investment in ensuring that students not only know the theory behind technology and business practices, but also that they learn to apply that theory in labs and workspaces in the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation that mirror corporate spaces," Dr. Mary Gowan, MCCB dean, said.
The north Georgia region's knowledge economy faces a shortage of adequately trained technology workers. Companies occupying this premier innovation hub rely on specialized skills such as advanced programming, systems design, cyber operations, or technology leadership to maintain competitiveness. Such human capital is expensive to acquire, difficult to maintain, and requires ongoing learning opportunities to maintain currency.
"The MCCB is successfully positioned to develop technologically advanced human capital," Dr. Russell Teasley, professor of management and international business, said. "We offer graduate certificates in cybersecurity, technology leadership, compliance and ethics, as well as entrepreneurship and innovation. These certificates provide continuous learning opportunities for tech workers seeking mid-career advancement. They supplement MCCB undergraduate programs that supply affordable, technology-savvy, entry-level hires."
The new MCCB building supports a growing number of students majoring in computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, logistics, and finance. Donors and grants have provided funds for access to premier software, such as the McLeod Software for logistics and Bloomberg terminals for finance and analytics students. The Institute for Cyber Operations, funded by the Department of Defense, enables the use of NetLab+ for the cyber range.
Grads prepare for their next steps
91ÁÔÆæ will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
24 are Distinguished Military Graduates
Twenty-four cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2024-25 academic year, including five who are in the top 70 out of more than 5,000 in the national ROTC class.
Blue Ridge students earn scholarships
91ÁÔÆæ honored 28 of its Blue Ridge Campus students with almost $15,000 of scholarships and celebrated the philanthropy that made those scholarships possible at the Tomato Sandwich Supper on Nov. 7.
Professor earns data security patent
Faculty member Dr. Murthy Rallapalli is the lead investigator on a cutting-edge data security solution that recently received a patent.