TROY – Walsh College has added three professionals to its Information Technology-Decision Sciences Department leadership team with decades of diverse experience to help prepare its graduates for careers in cybersecurity, automotive cybersecurity, business information systems and more.

Joining the team are Dave Schippers, Thomas Petz and Christopher Heiden.  

“We’ve developed curriculum that blends academic theory and rigor with extensive hands-on development of critical skills,” said Schippers. “Walsh is the only school in Michigan to offer an experience like our Attack and Defend course, where teams attack and defend a mock business infrastructure in a controlled environment. Our graduates leave Walsh ready to enter the IT workforce, all the way up to the federal level.”

Assistant Professor and Department Chair, Schippers has 20 years of experience in information technology, cybersecurity and project management. He spearheaded Walsh’s new Automotive Cybersecurity concentration, which is available within the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree program.

Associate Professor Petz has 20 years of IT experience and in 2015 was named the Keith A. Pretty Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year from the Alliance for Excellence in Online Education. He is helping to revitalize core programming courses in Walsh’s undergraduate and graduate IT degrees and specializations.

Associate Professor Heiden brings 20 years of experience in information technology, digital marketing, and database technologies and is focused on expanding Walsh’s data sciences degree concentration.

Walsh was the first school in Michigan to be recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE/CD). Its IT degrees align with Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security NICE Framework Standards.

For more information about Walsh’s IT/Decision Sciences program, visit www.walshcollege.edu or call 800-WALSH-01.