The Department of Applied Computing is pleased to welcome Victoria Walters, a new professor of practice. Since spring 2022, Walters has been teaching in an adjunct capacity for the department.
Walters has 25 years industry experience in information technology, cybersecurity, and corporate security and compliance. She is pursuing a PhD in Computational Science and Engineering at Michigan Tech.
Walters started college with a music major, but life led her on a different path through the US Air Force Reserves, IT, cybersecurity, and eventually back to academia. She maintains a foothold in industry and brings these varied experiences to her teaching.
Initially, Walters didn’t envision teaching as part of her career trajectory. But from the moment she stepped into the classroom, she has loved every second of it.
“Watching students grow in their knowledge and experience as they apply what they’ve learned to new challenges gives me a profound sense of pride for them, much like a proud parent,” she explains. “The true reward comes from getting to know students, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their goals, watching them at commencement, and hearing stories about how they have applied what they learned in their new careers.”
Walters’s primary research interest is cybersecurity law and policy. She leverages her knowledge and experience in technology and her undergraduate work in law to research current and future trends and emerging legal challenges, analyze and develop innovative solutions, and contribute to the research community that studies the evolving landscape of legal and technological integration.
“The intersection between technology and law is fascinating,” Walters says. “The rapid advancements and innovation in technology often outpace the application of law, leaving the legal system with little to no precedent to reference when making decisions. This dynamic creates significant legal challenges, as well as opportunities for impactful contributions.”
Walter’s most recent research project involved a rigorous examination of the draft American Privacy Rights Act (APRA). The APRA would establish rights for individuals from whom covered data is collected, impose obligations on covered entities, and give individuals the right to access, correct, delete, and export their covered data held by a particular covered entity.
Walters was recently named vice-chair of the Information Security Committee and vice-chair of the Risk and Trust Management Committee for the American Bar Association (ABA).
As an educator, Walters strongly embraces constructivism. She sees her role as more of a mentor, providing students with the knowledge and guidance needed to apply concepts, while also offering opportunities for them to discover new applications for those concepts.
“This approach fosters critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and active learning,” Walters explains. “By creating a learning environment that encourages exploration and collaboration, I help students build their understanding through real-world experiences and hands-on activities. The method also leads to deeper comprehension and retention of material.”
“By empowering students to take ownership of their learning, I aim to prepare them for the complexities and challenges they will face in their professional lives,” she says. “I make the material personal to them and their interests, experiences, and level of understanding.”
Walters is the faculty advisor for the IT Oxygen Enterprise. The academic year she will teach Information Governance and Risk Management (SAT 4283/5283), Security and Privacy (SAT 5111), Security Penetration Testing and Audit (SAT 4817/5817), and Cybersecurity I (SAT 3812).
Walters and her family relocated to the Houghton area in late 2019 when her husband accepted a position in the IT department at Michigan Tech. At the time, she was working on a master’s in cybersecurity at Eastern Michigan University, which she completed in spring 2021.
“We love how beautiful it is here,” says Walters of the Houghton area. “We’re never more than 15 minutes from a lake, a waterfall, or a walk in the woods. And because we love snow, this is the perfect place for us.”
In addition to her teaching position at Michigan Tech, Walters is a security and compliance manager for HCL Software where she handles various internal and external audits.
Walters serves on the board of directors for Kaleidoscope, a nonprofit organization that offers educational opportunities for school-aged children in Houghton and the Keweenaw region. She plays alto/baritone saxophone with the Superior Wind Symphony, and saxophone and trumpet with the Copper Country Community Band. She also enjoys home projects, knitting, and playing video games.
Read more about Victoria Walters on her faculty profile.
Read some of Walters’s scholarly publications on Michigan Tech’s Digital Commons.
The Michigan Tech College of Computing, established in 2019, is the first academic unit in Michigan dedicated solely to computing, and one of only a handful such academic units in the United States. The college is composed of two academic departments. Department of Computer Science bachelor of science degree programs are in computer science, cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering; master of science programs are in applied computer science, cybersecurity, and data science; and a doctoral program is in computer science. Department of Applied Computing bachelor of science degree programs are in cybersecurity, electrical engineering technology, information technology, and mechatronics; master of science degree programs are in health informatics and mechatronics; and a doctoral program is in computational science and engineering.
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