Directory


Melissa J Dark

Melissa J Dark

Professor

Campus: West Lafayette
Contact Form

Department: Computer and Information Technology
Office: 467
Phone: 765.494.2554
Mailing Address:
Knoy Hall
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2021

Biography:

Biography

Melissa Dark is a Professor in Computer and Information Technology at Purdue. As Associate Dean for Strategic Planning, she coordinated the development and implementation of two strategic plans – the first and only two strategic plans published in the history of the college. She has worked closely with administration, faculty, and staff to articulate strategic goals, create and implement action plans, and develop a supportive assessment infrastructure. The outcomes of these two plans are the result of teamwork and include: growth in graduate education, the inception of a core undergraduate curriculum, increased diversity in our faculty and student body, and the inclusion of research as an accepted and growing part of the college’s academic mission. Under her leadership, the College has developed six signature areas to grow our research in areas of state, national, and global need. The College has experienced a 530% growth in proposals and 3300% growth in awards; much of this growth is the result of building strong interdisciplinary collaborations on campus. Dark works in human dimensions of information security with a focus on ethics, education and policy as it relates to information security.

Educational Background

Teaching

Fall 2010

  • Tech 62100 -- Technology and Policy

Fall 2009

  • Information Assurance Ethics

Fall 2007

  • Ethics Implications of an Information Age

Summer 2006

  • C&IT 623 Instructional Research in Information Assurance and Security

Spring 2005

  • C&IT 528 Information Security Management
  • IT 590W2 -- Applied Research Problems in Business and Industry

Fall 2005

  • Tech 621D Seminar in Post-Secondary Technical Education

Spring 2004

  • Tech 581S Ethics and Computing

Past Semesters

  • IT 590W1 Literature Review and Writing for Business and Industry Problems

Honors and Awards

  • 2010 - W.C. Furnas Professor of Technology
  • 2009 - CERIAS Fellow
  • 2008 - Study in a Second Discipline Fellowship
  • 2007 - Pillar of CERIAS
  • 2006 - Seeds for Success
  • 2005 - Outstanding Tenured Faculty in C&IT
  • 2005 - University Faculty Scholar
  • 2004 - Outstanding Tenured Faculty in C&IT
  • 2004 - Seeds for Success

Grant Proposals and Projects

  1. PI (2012) Research Experiences for Undergraduates - Information Assuranc eand Security

    This award funds a new CISE Research Experience for Undergraduates site focused on information assurance and security at Purdue University. Each year, eight undergraduate students will be recruited to work with faculty from Purdue's Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Education (CERIAS). The site plans to target students from institutions without graduate programs who would not normally have access to undergraduate research as well as students from traditionally under-represented groups. Students will work on a variety of research projects that embody the nature of the socio-technical challenges in information assurance and security including assurable software and architectures, enclave and network security, authentication and privacy, risk management, policies, and trusted social and human interactions. Students will also participate in a number of professional development activities and a special ethics component. The intellectual merit of this project lies with the strong faculty and infrastructure of the CERIAS Center. Students will work with top researchers on projects that are relevant and important. Information assurance is vital for the protection of the nation?s critical computing and communications infrastructure. Thus the students and faculty working together have the potential to impact the research body in this important area. The broader impacts of the project include providing a quality research experience to undergraduate students, particularly students from underrepresented groups and from institutions with limited research environments. Thus this project has the potential to produce new computer science graduate students and faculty members and to advance discovery and understanding while promoting learning.

  2. PI (2012) CyberOperations
  3. Co-Principal Investigator (2010) ITiCSE Information Assurance Working Group
  4. Co-PI (2010) Preparing Cybersecurity Leaders

    Purdue University and CERIAS propose to host three new cohorts of Scholarship for Service (SFS) graduate students. The project builds on the established programs in cybersecurity education and research, and a successful experience as one of the first SFS recipients. The program expects a total of 18 new graduates with an M.S. degree, either in Computer Science or in the Interdisciplinary Masters Degree in Information Security. Some of those graduates may also complete qualifier exams to return to Purdue for a Ph.D. in computer science. The project has an interdisciplinary approach and demonstrates how cybersecurity is more than a technical domain of expertise, but one that must include background in issues related to individual and group behaviors. The SFS students participate in research at the boundaries of these issues as part of their required M.S. thesis or research project. Students receive special attention in seminar and advising sessions to help them understand the context and role of information security in today's society. This includes regular presentations by leaders in commerce, academia, and government. Through this program students receive a valuable educational background in information security and assurance, obtain hands-on research experience, gain perspective on industry and research trends, and provide valuable service to the government while experiencing real-world problems.

  5. PI (2006-09) Information Security Ethics: A Constructivist/Moral Development Approach
  6. PI (2006-08) Indiana Interdisciplinary GK-12: Bringing Authentic Problem Solving in STEM to Rural Middle Schools
  7. Co-PI (2004) Information Assurance Scholarship Program Capacity Building
  8. Co-PI (2004) The Design and Use of Digital Identities
  9. Co-PI (2004) Effective Distance Learning Through Sustained Interactivity and Video Realism
  10. Co-PI (2004) A Comprehensive Policy-Driven Framework for Online Privacy Protection: Integrating IT, Human, Legal, and Economic Perspectives
  11. PI (2003) Capacity Building in Information Assurance and Security
  12. PI (2002) Center for the Development of Faculty in Information Assurance
  13. PI (2001) Computing and Ethics, A Faculty and Curriculum Development Project
  14. PI (2001) Modular Information Security Training
  15. PI (2001) Information Security Distance Education Modules
  16. Co-PI (2000) CD Based Case Studies in Industrial Management

Textbooks and Editorships of Journals/Proceedings

  1. Melissa J. Dark, Editor, (2010) Information Assurance and Security Ethics in Complex Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
  2. Goldschmidt, C., Dark, M., and Chaudhry, H., Responsbility for the Harm and Risk of Software Security Flaws. (2010) Melissa J. Dark.Information Assurance and Security Ethics in Complex Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
  3. Melissa J. Dark, Data Breach Disclosure: A Policy Analysis. (2010) Information Assurance and Security in Complex Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
  4. Dark, M., Epstein, R., Morales, L., Countermine, T., Yuan, Q., Rose, M., & Harter, N., A Pedagogical Framework for Ethical Development. (2007) M. Quigley. Encyclopedia of Information Ethics and Security Idea Group.
  5. Dark, M., (2005) Security Training, Education, and Awareness from a Human Performance Technology Point of View (86-104), in M. Whitman and H. Mattord (Eds)., Information Security Management Case Studies and Readings .
  6. Dark, M., (2003) Jackie Adams: Case Study #2. In P. Ertmer & J. Quinn (Eds). The ID Casebook: Case Studies in Instructional Design. (2nd ed.) .
  7. Dark, M., (2003) A models and modeling perspective on skills for the high performance workplace. (279-296). In R. Lesh & H. Doerr (Eds.), Beyond Constructivism: A Models and Modeling Perspective on Mathematics Teaching, Learning, and Problem Solving .
  8. Dark, M., (2003) Evaluation. (285-290). In A. Kovalchic & K. Dawson (Eds.), Educational Technology: An Encyclopedia .
  9. Dark, M., (2003) Knowledge management. (389-392). In A. Kovalchic & K. Dawson (Eds.), Educational Technology: An Encyclopedia .
  10. Rose, M., & Dark, M., (2003) Just-in-time training. (382-388). In A. Kovalchic & K. Dawson (Eds.), Educational Technology: An Encyclopedia .
  11. Dark, M., (2003) Jackie Adams: Case Study #1. In P. Ertmer & J. Quinn (Eds). The ID Casebook: Case Studies in Instructional Design (2nd ed.) .
  12. Dark, M., (2003) Teaching with technology features. In. R. Slavin, Educational Psychology (7th Ed.) .

Refereed Articles and Conference Papers/Presentations/Abstracts

  1. Cooper, S., Nickell, C., Piotrowski, V., Oldfield, B., Abdallah, A., Bishop, M., Caelli, B., Dark, M (2010). An exploration of the current state of information assurance education.. SIGCSE Bulletin, 41(4), 109-125.
  2. Riskowski, J, Davis, C. Wee, B. Dark, M., & Harbor, J. (2009). Exploring the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary water resources engineering module in an eighth grade science course. International Journal of Engineering Education, 25(1), 181-195.
  3. Dark, M., Goldman, J., Hacker, T., Marshall, B., & Smith, A. (2009). Dark Web Patterns. Proceedings of the WebSci 2009: Society Online Conference, Athens, Greece.
  4. Dark, M., Rebow, M., & Coyle, E. (2009). How to establish a transatlantic collaborative research framework. Barcelona, Spain: INTED.
  5. Dyehouse, M., Bennett, D., Harbor, J., Childress, A., & Dark, M. (2009). A Comparison of Linear and Systems Thinking Approaches for Program Evaluation Illustrated Using the Indiana Interdisciplinary GK-12. Evaluation and Program Planning, 32(5) (pp.187-196).
  6. Farahmand, F., Dark, M., Liles, S. and Sorge, B. (2009). Risk Perceptions of Information Security: A Measurement Study.. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (pp.462-469). Vancouver, BC.
  7. Dark, M., York, C., Yang, D., Popescu, P., & Nita-Rotaru, C. (2008). A pilot study on the design effectiveness of a new distance learning system.. American Association of Educational Research
  8. Rigby, S., Dark, M., Ekstrom, J., Rogers, M. (2008). Measuring conceptual understanding: A case study.. Proceedings of the 9th conference on Information Technology Education Cincinnati, OH.
  9. Dondera, R., Jia, C., Popescu, V., Nita-Rotaru, C., Dark, M., & York, C. (2008). Virtual classroom extension for effective distance education.. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, January/February, 32-42.
  10. Nita-Rotaru, C, Dark., M., & Popescu, V. (2007). A Multi-expertise Application-Driven Class. Covington, KY: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCSE Conference.
  11. Dark, M., & McPherson, C. (July 2007). Privacy Perceptions in Public Education. Bejing, China: Proceedings of the Human Computer Interface International Conference.
  12. York, C., Yang, D., & Dark, M. (2007). Transitioning from Face-to-Face to Online Instruction: How to Increase Presence and Cognitive/Social Interaction in an Online Information Security Risk Assessment Class. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 3(2), 42-52.
  13. Rigby, S., Dark, M., Ekstrom, J., & Rogers, M. (2007). Preparing IAS graduates to recognize and manage complexity.. Proceedings of the 8th conference on Information Technology Education Sandestin, FL.
  14. Dark, M., York, C., Popescu, V., & Nita-Rotaru, C. (2007). Evaluating Interactivity and Presence in an Online Distance Learning System. Milwaukee, WI: Proceedings of the ASEE Frontiers in Education.
  15. Dark, M., Harter, N., Ludlow, G., & Falk, C. (2006). Ethical Attributes in Computing and Computing Education: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, 4(2), 67-75.
  16. Ekstrom, E., Dark, M., Lunt, B., & Reichgelt, H. (2006). A Research Agenda for Inforamtion Technology: Does Research Literature Already Exist?. Minneapolis, MN: Proceedings of the ACM SIGITE Conference.
  17. Dark, M., & Manigault, C. (2006). Creating Open-ended Problems for STEM Courses and Diverse Learners Using Information Assurance and Security. Orlando, FL: 4th International Conference on Education and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications.
  18. Rigby, S., & Dark, M. (2006). Using Outcomes-based Assessment Data to Improve Assessment and Instruction: A Case Study. SIGITE Newsletter, 3(1), 10-16.
  19. Ekstrom, J., Dark, M., & Lunt, B. (2006). Integration of Information Assurance into the IT 2005 Model Curriculum. Journal of Information Technology Education, 5, 389-402.
  20. Dark, M., Epstein, R., Morales, L., Countermine, T., Yuan, Q., Ali, M., Rose, M., Harter, N. (2006). A framework for information security ethics education.. Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education. Adelphi, MD.
  21. Dark, M., & Bailey, G. (2006). Information security risk analysis: Model courseware.. Information Assurance Symposium. Albany, NY.
  22. Rigby, S., & Dark, M. (2006). Designing a Flexible, Multipurpose Remote Lab for the IT Curriculum. Minneapolis, MN: Proceedings of the ACM SIGITE Conference.
  23. Lee, H., Dark, M., & Chen, K. (2005). Incorporating Ethics into Management Information Systems Curriculum in Business Schools. Issues in Information Systems, IV91), 360-364.
  24. Yang, D., & Dark, M. (2005). A Service Learning Project of Informatin Security Risk Assessment for K12 School Corporations. Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
  25. Dark, M. (2004). Academic Alliances and Initiatives in the Computer/Information Security Arena. Northeast Center for Computer and Information Systems Security Conference
  26. Dark, M., Vaughn, R., McGillan, D. (2004). Center of Academic Excellence Efforts to Improve Information Assurance Policy. Annual Information Assurance Directorate Hosted Meeting for Presidents of Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education
  27. Dark, M. (2004). Working with Historically Underrepresented Colleges and Universities. Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education
  28. Dark, M. (2004). Assessing Student Performance Outcomes in an Information Security Risk Assessment, Service Learning Course. SIGITE
  29. Dark, M. (2004). Civic Responsibility and Information Security: An Information Security Management, Service Learning Course. Information Security Curriculum Development,
  30. Dark, M., Ghafarian, A., & Yu, J. (2004). Integrating Ethical and Social Issues into the Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum Using Case-Based Instruction.. SIGCSE
  31. Dark, M., Iunghuhn, M., & Rausch, L. (2004). School Safety and the Internet: Is Your Network Secure?. Indiana School Board Association Journal.
  32. Dark, M. & Poftak, A. (2004). Security Audit 101. Technology and Learning
  33. Davis, J., & Dark, M. (2003). Teaching Students to Design Secure Systems. IEEE Security and Privacy
  34. Dark, M., & Davis, J. (2003). Defining a Curriculum Framework in Information Assurance and Security. ASEE
  35. Davis, J., & Dark, M. (2003). A Curriculum Framework for the Emerging Discipline of Information Assurance. Midwest ASEE
  36. Dark, M. (2003). An Overview of Evaluation Theory and Practice as Applied to Information Security Education. World Information Security Education Conference
  37. Dark, M., Raskin, V., & Spafford, E. (2003). The educational mission of CERIAS: Multidisciplinary information assurance and security education from cradle to grave. National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee
  38. Dark, M. (2003). Center for faculty development in information security. Annual Information Assurance Directorate Hosted Meeting for Presidents of Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education
  39. Dark, M. (2003). Information assurance education. CERIAS Information Security Symposium
  40. Dark, M., Davis, J., & Carver, C. (2003). Information assurance curriculum of the future. Federal Information Systems Security Educators’Association
  41. Dark, M., Ghafarian, A., & Yu, J. (2002). Information Ethics and Social Issues in the Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum. National Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education
  42. Dark, M. (2002). The state of information assurance education. National Information Assurance Leadership Conference
  43. Dark, M. (2001). A profile of information security training needs on university campuses. EduCause North Atlantic Conference

Workshops

  1. Dark, Melissa (2010, April). Innovations in Information Assurance and Security Education, Invited Speaker. Bossier, LA.
  2. Dark, Melissa (2010, October). Building a Secure Programming Curriculum, Keynote Speaker, Summit onEducation in Software Security. Washington DC,
  3. Dark, Melissa (2010, November). CyberEd 13-20 Working Group Lead, NSA/DHS CAE Principals Meeting. St. Louis, MO.
  4. Dark, M., & Bishop, M. (2008). Evaluating the efficacy of software security curriculum exercises.. Orlando, FL.
  5. Farahmand, F., Spafford, E., & Dark, M. (2007). Perceptions of information security risks and implications for public policy.. College Park, MD.
  6. Dark, Melissa (2006, November). Implementing the Information Security Risk Analyst Standard, Invited Panelist, Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education. Adelphi, MD.
  7. Dark, Melissa (2006, September). Information Assurance and Security Education and Outreach, Information Assurance and Security Workshop. Fairbanks, AK.
  8. Dark, Melissa (2005, October). Information Security Ethics. Tuskegee, AL.
  9. Dark, Melissa (2005). Cybertrust Education and Outreach, Invited Panelist, National Science Foundation Cybertrust PI Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.
  10. Dark, Melissa (2004, February). Academic Alliances and Initiatives in the Computer/Information Security Area, Northeast Center for Computer and Information Systems Security Conference. Baltimore, MD.
  11. Dark, Melissa (2004, November). Center of Academic Excellence Efforts to Improve Information Assurance Policy, Annual Information Assurance Directorate Hosted Meeting for Presidents of Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. Washington DC,
  12. Dark, Melissa (2003, October). The State of Information Assurance Education, National Inforamtion Assurance Leadership Conference. Washington DC,
  13. Dark, Melissa (2003, March). Information Assurance Curriculum of the Future, Federal Information Systems Security Educators' Association. Washington DC,
  14. Dark, Melissa (2003, November). Center for Faculty Development in Information Security. Washington DC,

Research Interests

  • Research Expereinces for Undergradautes Site PI - Multidisciplinary Information Assurance and Security - www.cerias.purdue.edu/reu
  • Information Assurance and Security Curriculum, Hacker Aptitude, Information Security Risk Assessment, Outcomes-Based Assessment

Hobbies, Outside Interests, and Personal Links

  • Reading, Gardening, Dog Walking, Travel, Yoga

Links

Audiences