Kalamazoo Times

Hundreds of students, educators, and professionals in cybersecurity and information technology gathered at Western Michigan University (WMU) for the annual Cybersecurity Summit on October 9. The event aimed to address current threats and challenges in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Garald Barton IV, marketing manager for WMU’s Office of Information Technology, described this year’s summit as a major achievement. “This year was a huge success! We had strong student participation and a diverse planning team, twice as many sponsors as last year and more sessions than ever,” Barton said.

Students played a significant role in organizing the summit. According to Barton, “It empowers them to lead, innovate and grow. Their contributions go beyond logistics; they shape the content, bring fresh perspectives and create meaningful learning experiences for their peers.” He added that this involvement is an example of how Experience-Driven Learning at WMU prepares students for real-world challenges by giving them responsibility in impactful events.

A highlight of the summit was a capture the flag competition developed by WRAVEN (Western Research Advisory for Vulnerabilities, Exploits and Networks), a student organization focused on cybersecurity. The challenge included tasks such as decrypting encryption algorithms and analyzing satellite images. Lochlan McElroy, founder and president of WRAVEN, explained: “The main goal of the competition was to get people out of their comfort zones. It’s a fun way to learn cybersecurity skills.”

The summit also featured sessions with faculty members, industry professionals, and experts like Brett Leatherman from the FBI’s Cyber Division. Kane Greer, a recent WMU graduate now working as a cybersecurity specialist for South Bend, Indiana, shared his experience transitioning from college to career. “Western has definitely set me up in a way that is so good foundationally that everything else can just kind of fall in place from a career perspective,” Greer told attendees.

Greer recommended taking advantage of various programs at WMU: “Western has so many different programs outside of your discipline that I would definitely recommend,” he said. As part of TechNext—a program placing students in technology hubs—he built relationships across disciplines including programming and human resources.

Attendance at the summit has grown significantly over four years; more than 400 people participated this year compared to about 130 at its inception. Participants included professionals from industry vendors as well as K-12 educators and students interested in technology fields.

Caden Carr, president of Business Technology Network RSO at WMU and part of the core planning team, highlighted networking benefits: “Technology is everywhere, and it’s super important to have these events to network and build relationships with people in the industry… I truly believe your network is your net worth.”

With over 60 high school and community college students present this year, organizers see the summit as helping expand enrollment in WMU’s cybersecurity program.

Carr noted broader university developments: “Western is really on this run of wins.We have a new president, new buildings and we’re really competing on a national level.And the cybersecurity summit is another crucial building block to get more students involved in tech and make Western more competitive in the industry,” he said.

Inspired by their experience with the summit, Carr and Nick Ford organized an independent student-run event called Tech Jam earlier this year featuring startup pitches and social engineering competitions involving live performances by actors from Bronco Theatre Club. Ford commented: "We partnered with the Bronco Theatre Club... People really liked both activities."

The next Tech Jam is scheduled for spring 2026.

McElroy expressed hope that opportunities like these will continue expanding: “The more experience you have with capture the flag events… it just makes you more well-rounded in the cyber field,” he said. “The WMU Cybersecurity Summit ... brings together all the things you should be doing to grow yourself as a cyber professional.”

For additional news about Western Michigan University events or updates visit WMU News online.