Scholarship

The Cyber Educator’s Research & Reach

From peer-reviewed publications to international presentations and hands-on workshops, this section highlights the research, insights, and real-world impact I’ve made in advancing cybersecurity knowledge and practice.

Publications

• Ermicioi, N., Liu, X., Murphy, D., (2022). A Framework to Implement Academic Digital Badges when Reskilling the IT Workforce. Information Systems Education Journal20(1) pp 36-46. http://ISEDJ.org/2022-1/ ISSN : ISSN: 1545-679X. Available here. 🔍

Editor’s Note: This paper was selected for inclusion in the journal as an EDSIGCON 2021 Distinguished Paper. The acceptance rate is typically 7% for this category of paper based on blind reviews from six or more
peers including three or more former best papers authors who did not submit a paper in 2021.

• Ermicioi, N., & Liu, X. M. (2021). An Interdisciplinary Study of Cybersecurity Investment in the Nonprofit Sector. American Journal of Management, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.33423/ajm.v21i5.4728. Available here. 🔍

• Ermicioi, Natalia and Liu, Michelle Xiang, “Cybersecurity In Nonprofits: Factors Affecting Security Readiness During Covid-19” (2022). SAIS 2022 Proceedings. 18. https://aisel.aisnet.org/sais2022/18. Available here. 🔍

• Ermicioi, Natalia and Liu, Michelle Xiang, “Level of Cybersecurity Readiness of Small and Medium Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) During COVID-19” (2022). SEDSI 2022 Proceedings. https://www.sedsi.org/_files/ugd/f590f6_99396e2a33014a608b840f0c7678df41.pdf. Available here. 🔍

Academic Presentations, Posters and Tutorials/ Workshops

• 2022 38th Annual CCSC Eastern Conference (Faculty Poster Abstract) | Developing Basic Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Solutions Using BeagleBone AI: An AI Hardware Learning Tool for Undergraduate Students | Oct. 21-22, 2022. Available here. 🔍

• 2022 38th Annual CCSC Eastern Conference (Faculty Tutorial Abstract) | Using Single-Board Miniature Computers (SBCs) to Create Basic Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) projects | Oct. 21-21, 2022. Available here. 🔍

• 2022 Southern Association for Information Systems Annual Conference 2022 (Academic Presentation) | Cybersecurity In Nonprofits: Factors Affecting Security Readiness During Covid-19 | March. 24-25, 2022. Available here. 🔍

• 2022 The 51st Annual Meeting of the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute 2022 (Academic Presentation) | Level of Cybersecurity Readiness of Small and Medium Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) During COVID-19 Oral Presentation | Feb. 16-18, 2022. Available here. 🔍

• 2021 EDSIG Conference, Washington DC (Academic Presentation) | Digital Badges as an Agile Pathway: Implementing Graduate-Level, Micro-Credential Programs to Reskill the IT Workforce | Nov. 3-6, 2021. Available here. 🔍

• 2021 37th Annual CCSC Eastern Conference (Academic Presentation – Conference Tutorial) | Using a Raspberry Pi to Teach Python Coding to Students of All Ages | Oct. 22-23, 2021. Available here. 🔍

• 2021 37th Annual CCSC Eastern Conference (Faculty Poster Abstract) | Analyzing the Optimal Level of Investment in Cybersecurity for Nonprofit Organizations (NPO) by Combining Gordon-Loeb and FAIR Models | Oct. 22-23, 2021. Available here. 🔍

• 2021 37th Annual CCSC Eastern Conference (Faculty – Student Paper Abstract) | How Can Romania Leverage Education to Become a Regional Cybersecurity Leader? | Oct. 22-23, 2021. Available here. 🔍

• 2021 ACM CAPWIC (Academic Presentation – Research Shorts) | Cybersecurity Applied to Nonprofits | Mar. 26-28, 2021. Available here. 🔍

• 2019 ACM CAPWIC | Cybersecurity Applied to Nonprofits – The Optimal Cybersecurity Investment (Conference Poster) | Mar. 22-23, 2019 | Harrisonburg, VA. Available here. 🔍

• 2019 Marymount University Student Research Conference (Academic Presentation) | Cybersecurity Applied to Nonprofits – The Optimal Cybersecurity Investment | Apr. 24, 2019 | Arlington, VA. Available here. 🔍

Academic Awards

EDSIGCON 2021 Distinguished Paper Award

Ermicioi, N., Liu, X., Murphy, D., (2022). A Framework to Implement Academic Digital Badges when Reskilling the IT Workforce. Information Systems Education Journal20(1) pp 36-46. http://ISEDJ.org/2022-1/ ISSN : ISSN: 1545-679X. Available here. 🔍

The acceptance rate is typically 7% for this category of paper based on blind reviews from six or more peers including three or more former best papers authors who did not submit a paper in 2021. 

Industry & Discipline Presentations

• 2022 CyberCon Romania 2022 (Invited Speaker) | Cybersecurity Education and Career Development | May 18-20, 2022. Available here. 🔍

• 2022 IIoT World Manufacturing Day 2022 (Invited Moderator) | Securing the Connected Factory of Tomorrow | May 12, 2022. Available here. 🔍

• 2022 Women in Data Science Romania 2021 (Invited Speaker) | Academic Panel | March. 7, 2022. Available here. 🔍

White Papers

• Ermicioi, Natalia & Pop, Daria. (2022). How Can Romania Leverage Education to Become a Regional Cybersecurity Leader? Available here. 🔍

Grants

• Ermicioi, Natalia 2018-2019 MU Summer Research Fellowship Project: Understanding the Differences between Nonprofit and For-Profit Organizations’ Optimal Investment in Cybersecurity Available here. 🔍

Awards and Recognitions

• Nominated for the MU Robert A. Draghi Outstanding Faculty Award (May 2022). The Robert A. Draghi Outstanding Faculty Award is awarded to a full-time faculty who has contributed to strengthen the overall University Community, supports the MU Mission and “Students Come First” philosophy, and demonstrates outstanding teaching excellence.

• Nominated for the MU Good Colleague Faculty Award (May 2022). The MU Good Colleague Faculty Award Recognizes a BILT faculty member for their contributions to their peers in service of programs, scholarship, teaching, etc.

• Marymount Alumni Saint Spotlight (December 2021)

• Nominated the SAINT OF THE MONTH (March 2020) by International Student Services at Marymount University 🔍

• 2014 The International Student of the Year Award (Winner – Central and Eastern Europe region) – The most important national award dedicated to International students, under the patronage of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova – Excelenta Academica pentru Moldova. 🔍

Academic Service

• Served as Organizer and Instructor for the 2021 MU Cyber AI Summer Camp🔍 | Jun. 21 – 25, 2021 | Marymount University, Arlington, VA

• Served as Facilitator and Instructor for Fulbright Program – Cybersecurity in Universities: A Global Exchange Program🔍 | Jun. 21 – 25, 2021 | Marymount University, Arlington, VA

• Served as Facilitator/Instructor for GEN AI Project, coordinated by MITRE.🔍

• Served as Facilitator and Instructor for Elder Tech Care Program – Falls Church Senior Center | April & Jun. 24 – Jul. 8, 2021 | Marymount University, Arlington, VA

• Served as Co-Chair for the Scholarship Committee of CAPWIC🔍 2020 (ACM Capital Region Celebration of Women in Computing) | Mar. 27 – 28, 2020 | Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA

• Served as Assistant Coach for the competing Marymount University team at the annual Cyber Fusion Challenge🔍, co-hosted by Virginia Military Institute, Senator Mark R. Warner, and the Virginia Cyber Range  | Feb. 21 – 22, 2020 | Lexington, VA