Center for Academic Excellence: Faculty

Dr. John Sands, Department Chair

Dr. John Sands has thirty-three years of experience in teaching and developing curriculum in the areas of Data Communications, Information Technology, and Information Assurance. He currently serves as the Principal Investigator/Executive Director of the Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), an NSF/ATE National Support Center. He holds several industry certifications and runs a consulting firm in Information Security and Wireless Communications.

Education

• Ph.D.,  Education, Colorado State University (2008)
• M.A., Human Performance and Testing, Governors State University (2001)
• B.A., Process Control, Chicago State University (1992)

Awards

• 2020 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Award
• 2019 ACCT Regional Faculty Member Award Recipients (2019)
• 2019 ICCTA State of Illinois Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award
• Moraine Valley Professor of the Year – (2019)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Innovator of the Year (2005)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Innovator of the Year (1999)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Innovator of the Year (1990)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Master Teacher (1998)

Certifications

• Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
• CompTIA A+, N+, Security+
• Certified Cisco Network Professional CCNP (Routing & Switching)
• Cisco Certified Academy Instructor (CCAI)
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

Kevin Vaccaro, Program Lead

Kevin has over thirty years of experience in information technology, cyber defense, and computer forensics. Kevin is a full-time tenured faculty member and program lead for the MVCC IT Security Specialist programs.

Education

• M.S., Information Technology & Management, Illinois Institute of Technology
• A.A.S., DeVry University
• B.A., English Language & Literature, University of Chicago

Certifications

• EC-Council CEH v.10
• EC-Council CHFI
• EC-Council ECIH
• EC-Council CEI
• SANS GCIH
• SANSGSEC
• SANS GPEN
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Net+
• CompTIA Security +
• CompTIA CySA+
• Linux LPI
• Palo Alto Certified Configurator
• Cisco Certified Instructor

Dr. Nate Evans, Senior Adjunct Faculty Industry Advisor

Dr. Evans is an adjunct faculty member at MVCC and teaches course in the IT Security Specialist program. Currently Cybersecurity Program Lead SSS, Argonne National Laboratory. Organized and lead cyber research groups to develop a cybersecurity-research program at ANL, focus on operational, analysis and research areas.

Education

• Ph.D.,  Computer Engineering, Iowa State University (2009)
• B.A., Computer Engineering, Iowa State University (2006)

Certifications

• Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)

Activities

• 2016-Present. Technical Research Chair of the IEEE RWS Cybersecurity Volume. DOI: 10.1109/RWS47064.2019
• 2016-Present. Participate and on the advisory committee of the NSA INSURE Program.
• 2016-2018. Assisted in the development of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
• 2017-Present. Co-chair of the cybersecurity National events as part of SkillsUSA. Designed the event and run the events including the state feeders and the National event.

Justin Valentino, Program Coordinator

Justin Valentino is currently a full-time, tenured Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Information Technology Programs at MVCC. Justin is also a technical education content developer in IT curriculum development with Cisco. He works on a designated team to design and implement evolving curriculum, labs, assessments, and videos. He provides an extensive amount of knowledge and experience in regards to information technology and education.

Education

• M.S., Instructional Technology, Fort Hays State University (2022)
• M.P.S., Computer Networking and Telecommunications, Fort Hays State University (2017)
• B.S.,  Information Networking and Telecommunications, Fort Hays State University (2011)
• A.A.S., IT Security Specialist, Moraine Valley Community College (2009)
• A.A.S., Voice and Data Specialist, Moraine Valley Community College (2009)
• A.A.S., Computer & Local Area Network Technician, Moraine Valley Community College (2009)

Certifications

• LPI Linux Essentials,
• CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CYSA+
• Palo Alto Networks Certified
  Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician
• Certified Wireless Network Administrator
• Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist
• Cisco CCNA
• Cisco CyberOps Associate
• Cisco CCNP Enteprise

William Wolfe, Fulltime Faculty

Bill has over thirty years of experience in Information Technology and Network Security.  Bill is a Subject matter Expert in Networking Communication (VoIP and Routing and Switching). He is currently a full-time tenure faculty member at MVCC teaching networking and Security Courses.

Education

• A.A.S., Computer and LAN Technology, Moraine Valley Community College (2015)

Certifications

• Certified Cisco Networking Academy Instructor Trainer
• CCAI, CCNA, CCDA, CCNA Voice, CCNA-Security, CCNA-Wireless, Cisco IPS Specialist, Cisco CVOICE Specialist
• CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, Internetworking Technician Certificate, Intrusion Prevention Specialist Certificate

Dr. Kristine Christensen, Fulltime Faculty

Dr. Christensen has over twenty years’ experience in website development, user interface design, programming, networking, robotics, and engineering technology. Kristine also serves as Moraine Valley’s Director of Faculty Development and is responsible for designing, developing, and evaluating professional development programs for faculty and staff. In addition to her academic credentials, she has earned numerous professional certifications in information technology and networking, manufacturing and robotics, programming, and web development.

Education – Degrees

• Ph.D.,  Community College Leadership, Old Dominion University (2011)
• M.S., Teaching and Learning, University of St. Francis (2011)
• M.S., Management Information Systems, Governors State University (2000)
• M.B.A. (concentration: Technology & Consulting), Eastern Illinois University (1998)
• B.S., Business Administration & Industrial Psychology, Valparaiso University (1997)
• A.A.S., Management Information Systems, Moraine Valley Community College (2003)

Education – Certificates

• Graduate Certificate, Mass Communication (Online Communications & Website Design, University of Florida (2012)
• Computer Technician , Moraine Valley Community College (2020)
• Network Security Associate, Moraine Valley Community College (2019)
• Computer Support Associate, Moraine Valley Community College (2019)

Awards

• Moraine Valley Community College – Innovator of the Year (2015)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Master Teacher (2008)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Innovator of the Year (2007)
• Moraine Valley Community College – Professor of the Year (2004)
• Old Dominion Doctoral Fellowship Award (2005, 2010)
• 2017 District 13 Educator’s Scholarship (American Welding Society)

Certifications

• Arduino Fundamentals
• Cisco IoT Connecting Things Certified Instructor
• IoT Fundamentals
• Microsoft Networking Fundamentals
• Microsoft Database Administration
• Microsoft HTML5 Application Development
• CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)
• FANUC iRVision Operation and Programming Certified Instructor
• FANUC iRVision Operation and Programming Certification
• FANUC Handling Tool Operation and Programming Certified Instructor
• FANUC Handling Tool Operation Programming Certification
• Universal Robotics Core & Professional Training
• COMMON Business Computing Associate
• CIW Internet Business Associate
• Adobe Certified Educator
• ICS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System
• IS-01200: Introduction to Continuity of Operations
• IS-00909: Community Preparedness

Susan Sands, Adjunct Faculty

Susan has over fifteen years’ experience in Information Management Systems and Higher Education. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at MVCC and teaches Information Technology classes for the college. Susan is also an author and subject matter expert in developing curriculum materials including exams, exercises, labs, and case studies, group activities, and instructional resources.

Education

• M.B.A., Information Systems, DePaul University (1989)
• B.S., Finance, University of Illinois (1982)

Certifications

• CompTIA A+, Network+ Security+

Angelo Vinceslao, Adjunct Faculty

Angelo has over twenty years’ experience in Information Management Systems and Higher Education. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at MVCC and teaches Information Technology classes for the college.

Certifications

• Microsoft Certified IT Professional – Enterprise Administrator
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist – Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist – Windows Server 2008 Applications Infra Configuration
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist – Windows Server 2008 Network Infra Configuration
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist – Windows Vista Configuration
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist – Exchange Server 2007 Configuration
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist – Exchange Server 2010 Configuration
• Microsoft Certified System Engineer – Windows 2000,2003
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
• Cisco Certified Network Associate
• CompTIA Network+, Security+