10 minute read
Tech Happenings
Indiana Tech’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted its second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration on main campus. This year, the celebration included a Day of Service, during which Tech students, faculty, staff and community members volunteered at the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission and at NeighborLink. The Rescue Mission provides restorative care to men, women and children experiencing a homeless crisis; the organization serves Fort Wayne, Allen County and nine surrounding counties in Northeast Indiana. NeighborLink works to build bridges between needs and resources by assisting volunteers as they give back to the community. Tech volunteers worked with senior citizens, persons who are differently-abled, and lowincome families as part of the day of service. Returning this year as part of the MLK Day celebration was the Community Celebration Breakfast. This sold-out event was attended by over 150 community leaders, Indiana Tech faculty, staff and students, and alumni. The breakfast included a keynote address by Dr. Maurice Stinnett, vice president of diversity and inclusion at BSE Global, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets and their home arena, the Barclays Center.
You can read more about Dr. Stinnett, who will serve as Indiana Tech’s featured speaker during its Oct. 3 commencement ceremony, on page 12.
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Spring 2020 B
A. Senior industrial and manufacturing engineering major Cierra Gates served as the emcee for Indiana Tech’s second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration in January. B. Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Maurice Stinnett, vice president of diversity and inclusion for BSE Global, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center.
Pep band lays down sweet tracks at Sweetwater recording studios
The Warrior Pep Band recently had the opportunity to visit and record several songs at Sweetwater, the world’s leading music technology and instrument retailer that calls Fort Wayne home. Sweetwater’s state-of-the-art facilities
include performance venues and recording studios, where the pep band performed six songs: the national anthem, the Indiana Tech fight song, Hey Baby, Boogie Wonderland, Uptown Funk and 25 or 6 to 4. Tech boosters can listen to the recordings and see photos of the pep band in action at https://indianatechwarriors. com/news/2019/12/5/warrior-pep-band-visitssweetwater.aspx.
Thank-A-Giver Day celebrates Tech friends and donors
The Indiana Tech community recently celebrated Thank-A-Giver Day to honor the many ways that Warrior alumni, friends, faculty and staff give back to the university. Scholarships for deserving students, strong academic programs and excellent learning facilities are just a few of the many areas made possible by those who contribute their time, treasure and talent to Tech students. Visit Giving.IndianaTech.edu/Tag-Day to see the thank you video showing the energy and appreciation found around Indiana Tech, not just on Thank-A-Giver Day, but every day!
Tech earns Military Friendly designation
Once again this year, Indiana Tech was recognized as a Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that has been connecting the military community to civilian opportunity since 2001. The university received Gold status overall and was ranked in the top 10 among military-friendly graduate degree programs. The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans and responses to a proprietary, datadriven survey from participating institutions.
Indiana Tech’s Military and Veteran Services team has a proud tradition of supporting members of the military and veterans, as well as military spouses. Every member of the team has served in a branch of the U.S. military. They have an intricate knowledge of military education benefits and they’re dedicated to serving the military student population.
Tech Happenings, continued
Dr. Maurice A. Stinnett will be the featured speaker for Indiana Tech’s commencement ceremony, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne.
Dr. Stinnett is an experienced leader and expert in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity across nonprofit, education and corporate sectors. He recently served as the keynote speaker at Indiana Tech’s 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration event. Dr. Stinnett serves as the inaugural vice president of diversity and inclusion for BSE Global, which owns and operates stateof-the-art venues such as the Barclays Center, and premier sports franchises including the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. In his role at BSE Global, he creates innovative programming tailored for inclusion and cultural competence and provides leadership and support across BSE’s brands. Dr. Stinnett was the first black man appointed vice president of diversity and inclusion for an NBA team.
Dr. Stinnett’s experience includes roles in higher education and nonprofit leadership. He previously served as vice president of engagement and chief diversity officer at Cleveland State University, where he successfully led the institution’s response to a university crisis that received national attention and ignited debates regarding the distinction between free speech and hate speech. Prior to joining CSU, his experience included serving as dean of students at Central State University; as the senior director of community engagement and education at CentroNia, a multicultural, bilingual education nonprofit; and as chairman for the World Leadership Program, a White House initiative under the Obama administration that sought to spark learning and dialogue between graduate students and universities in the Middle East and the United States.
Dr. Stinnett is an energetic presenter who is a fierce advocate for equity and inclusion. He has been recognized for his work by various organizations, including receiving the Robinson Trailblazer Award from Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition and being named to the “The Responsible 100” corporate leaders list by City & State New York. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Central State University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Master of Education and Doctor of Education and Organizational Leadership from Columbia University.
“On behalf of the entire Indiana Tech community, I’m proud to welcome Dr. Stinnett as our 2020 commencement speaker,” Indiana Tech president Karl Einolf said. “Dr. Stinnett is an impactful leader whose work and experiences are a clear demonstration to all of our students of what it means to live a life of significance and worth. His story and commitment to community will be an inspiration to each of our graduates.”
Indiana Tech’s commencement ceremony is free and open to all Indiana Tech students, families, alumni and the public—no tickets are required. The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. For more information, please visit https://commencement.indianatech.edu.
Spring 2020 Dr. Maurice Stinnett will be the featured speaker for Indiana Tech’s commencement ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.
New Max’s Bistro a hit with students and community alike
The opening of spring semester on the Fort Wayne campus brought with it an opening of a different kind—the grand opening of Max’s Bistro in the street-level retail section of the new Summit Hall residence on Washington Boulevard. Max’s has been a popular stop for students, neighbors and other members of the Fort Wayne community ever since, offering
made-to-order pub-style food including burgers, wings, flatbread pizzas, appetizers, soups, salads and more. Max’s accepts Indiana Tech student dining plans, cash and credit cards. The bistro was named in honor of Maximus, Indiana Tech’s warrior mascot. Central Grounds coffee shop will also be a new option in the Summit Hall retail space when students return to campus in the fall. Central Grounds will feature coffee from Fort Wayne’s own artisanal coffee company, Utopian Coffee. Indiana Tech’s first on-campus convenience store, Market C, opened in Summit Hall this past fall.
A Few Words With...
DARRYL TOGASHI
In the last issue of Indiana Tech Magazine, we introduced you to Darryl Togashi, who was hired last summer as director of Indiana Tech’s cybersecurity program, and told you about his plan for taking the program to new heights. We dive a bit deeper with professor Togashi in this issue. And, as one would expect from someone with a passion for and an expertise of cybersecurity, professor Togashi is a pretty complex guy.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: How long have you been an information technology professional?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: I’ve worked in the industry for over 20 years, from cabling networks and building servers to managing international teams and projects—working my way from the bottom up so to speak. I’ve been teaching since 2005, and in the last four years, I have become more focused on cybersecurity. That has allowed me to become a member of the Indiana Governor’s Council on Cybersecurity and an Infragard Member in the education sector for Indiana. I am also the National Collegiate Cyber Defense competition director for our state.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: What appeals to you about cybersecurity?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: I like puzzles and figuring out things. Cybersecurity has several components that allow me to use them and stop the bad people. We have some very smart students here at Indiana Tech, and seeing them build their knowledge and working on what-if scenarios really motivates me to do more for them in cybersecurity and their careers.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: How did you find your way to higher education?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: I had applied for some jobs and some master’s programs at the same time. I was in an interview, discussing an opportunity that I didn’t feel was a good fit for me, but as I was about to turn away, we began talking about my training experience. They were looking for adjunct faculty who could train others. Thus started my entry into higher education. I love making complex things simple and passing that on to others. I feel that teaching is one of the best platforms to do this.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: It appears your two children picked up on your fascination with being analytical and solving puzzles.
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: Yes, that is an accurate assessment. My wife and I have been married for 30 years and we have two sons. Our oldest graduated from Indiana University and is working in research for an oncology organization. Our youngest will graduate from Bloomington this spring. He is studying game and interactive media design. They are sharp young men and we are very proud of them.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: So, you spend most of your week teaching students about the intense world of cybersecurity while pushing our degree program toward national status. What does professor Togashi do to unwind?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: My hobbies, when I get a chance to do them, are woodworking and playing instruments and composing music.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: Really? What kind of woodworking are we talking about?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: Basic “fixing” and building small projects—dog ramps, wood swings, etc.— although I’ve started learning Japanese joinery. I am designing a modified version of a Leonardo da Vinci bridge and I am hoping to use some Japanese joints in the modified design. I enjoy making designs and seeing them come alive.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: And, composing music, how did this begin?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: I started playing the violin under the Suzuki method teaching philosophy in grade school and I attended the Interlochen Music Camp in Traverse City, Michigan, while I was in junior high. I toured Europe with the Sounds of Hope playing the viola, and I have played in rock and roll bands as a keyboardist, guitarist, violinist and backup vocalist. Overall, I play about 10 instruments—four of them fluently.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: Do you create original music?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: Yes, I’ve composed several songs—soft rock guitar songs, classical piano pieces and electronic music. Most of my compositions are for personal use, but I have created pieces for use at demonstrations and Tae Kwon Do events.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: So, who do you like to listen to?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: I don’t really listen to music unless I am composing or arranging a musical project. However, I do like the works of Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Edgar Winter and Emerson Lake and Palmer. Those artists, and a few others, have inspired me as a musician.
INDIANA TECH MAGAZINE: Is there a reason why you do not listen to music all the time?
PROFESSOR TOGASHI: It’s like an artist looking at a painting. I would see, hear and feel it in a different way. My focus would turn to the music instead of what I’m doing.
