Academic Team & Faculties of College of IT
Key Faculty of The College of Information Technology
The VIST’s Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills essential to design, develop and lead Information Technology (IT) teams and projects effectively in today’s global organizations. The MSIT program aims to produce qualified professionals for mid-level IT positions in small and mid-size companies. The MSIT program emphasizes real-world knowledge and practical experience to develop a solid theoretical foundation and real-world experience to contribute meaningfully to IT solutions in today’s fast-paced, technologically driven global marketplace.
The following is a list of key faculties at the College of Information Technology of the Virginia Institute of Science & Technology (VIST). All faculty in the MSIT programs at VIST hold advanced degrees, such as Ph.D., Doctoral and Top-level professional certifications such as CCISP, CCIE, CCNP MCSE, OCM, etc. Each professor is either affiliated with prestigious universities or holds senior management roles in corporations or government agencies. These faculty members are recognized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in their teaching fields.
All MSIT program professors have at least four years of professional experience working in federal government agencies or large and small corporations. They bring expertise in the subjects they teach, along with insights into leading business theories, current technologies, and practical business skills aligned with today’s job market demands.
Lead Faculty of Business School, Dr. Sheldon XF Peng
Dr. Nadeem Ul Haq has over 25 years of experience in higher education as an adjunct, associate, and full professor across more than six accredited universities. In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Haq is a senior software engineer and IT specialist, holding various professional positions that bridge industry and academia.
Dr. Haq has extensive experience designing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Information Technology, integrating foundational disciplines such as Networking, Computer Engineering, and Information Systems. His innovative approach has enabled students to acquire knowledge in their chosen areas while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering fields. His expertise in building functional teams, assessing resources, and coordinating projects has ensured timely project completion and has significantly enhanced students’ productivity and skill quality for entering the workforce.
Dr. Haq also brings 17 years of experience working with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), with a strong background in faculty development.
He earned his Doctorate in Education in Technology from Northcentral University and a master’s in information technology from Strayer University. Dr. Haq has been a professor at VIST since 2021 and became the Lead Faculty for the College of Information Technology in 2023.
Professors who Teach During 2024-2025 Academic Years
Professors |
Academic Credentials |
Courses Teaching |
Industrial Experience |
| Dr. Rafael Garcia Reilly | Ph.D | MSIT511 – Management of Information Technology | Development Advisor and Release Support Manager |
| Information Management Systems | MAM615 – Data Sources for Marketing Analytics | Lucent Technologies | |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | MAM628 – Marketing Analytics | Senior System Analyst responsible for staffing and training the Inferno/Limbo project; Lead development of Client /Server operating systems, including Limbo programming. | |
| Dr. William Zhang |
Ph.D. | ITSM612 – Technology Entrepreneurship | Security Architecture Lead |
| Computer Science | CSIS536 – Computing Operation Systems & Cybersecurity | World Bank | |
| University of Maryland – College Park | CSIS636 – Database System Management & Assurance | • The work of my team covers security architecture framework, secure design patterns, threat models, security automation through DevSecOps and security-as-code; • Security and privacy risks and controls in emerging technologies such as Cloud, Big Data, Blockchain, Deep Learning, 5G, etc.; Blockchain-based Identity, trusted computing with verifiable proofs. |
|
| Dr.Gulsebnem Bishop |
Ph.D. | MSIT511 – Management of Information Technology | Senior Project Manager |
| Computing Science | DMA621 – DBMS Design and Analysis | The Wilderness Society, Inc. | |
| Pace University | LAM611 – Project Management | • Provide leadership and direction for meeting the IT needs of the organization. • Provide critical systems management and data analysis services as well as databasesecurity and training to the Membership, Development and Communications teams. • Supervise all database needs to ensure integrity, timeliness of data analytics needs and that the needs are consistent with TWS strategic plan, policies, and IRS requirements. |
|
| Dr. Jim Chen | Ph.D. | CSIS536 – Computing Operation Systems & Cybersecurity |
MBDES System Architecture Expert Consultant |
| Computer Science | CSIS650 – System Architect and Cybersecurity | The US Department of Defense | |
| University of Central Florida | MSIT546 – Cloud Computing Technology | • Provide SME advising for MBDES system design, development, implementation, maintenance, update, etc.; • Security and privacy risks and controls in emerging technologies such as Cloud, Big Data, Blockchain, Deep Learning, 5G, etc.; Blockchain-based Identity, trusted computing with verifiable proofs. |
|
| Dr. Paul Wang | Ph.D. | MAM632 – Digital Marketing | Chief Information and IT Security Officer (CIO/CISO) |
| Computer Science & IT | MAM622 – Advanced Analytics & Modeling | National Biomedical Research Foundation. | |
| George Mason University | IAM 626 – Advanced Applied Digital Forensics | Conducted entire foundation information system management, information security strategy, planning, policy, implementation, and networking architecture, security and infrastructure. | |
| Dr. John Jiang |
Ph.D. | MSIT528 – Enterprise IT Application and Integration | Senior Director of HCM Cloud Operations Security |
| Computer Science | IAM647 – System Assessment & Security Risk Analysis | SAP | |
| Columbia University | CSIS650 – System Architect and Cybersecurity | • Building a tier-3 Operations Security team • Defined the mission and goal of the team – to become the leader in Cloud security • Plotted the vision and architecture of HCM cloud security • Defined information security policies, standards and procedures • Managed deployment projects • Risk Management & Migration and Budget. |
|
| Dr. Gideon Nwatu | Ph.D. | MSIT525 – Information Systems Analysis and Design | Senior Consultant |
| Applied Management (ISM) | MSIT528 – Enterprise IT Application and Integration | SOHANU, INC | |
| Walden University | MSIT525 – Information Systems Analysis and Design | • Research about cyber trend, countermeasures and develop strategies to protect network assets. • Maintain client’s server. Develop cybersecurity policies and train employees about cyber risks, malware, email hack and dump. |
|
| Dr. Xiaoliang (Leon) Zhao |
Ph.D. | MSIT546 – Cloud Computing Technology | Sr. Backbone Capacity Planner |
| Computer Science | CSIS636 – Database System Management & Assurance |
Time Warner Cable | |
| North Carolina State University, |
IAM640 – Information System Auditing and Monitoring | • As one of the core members of TWC backbone capacity planning team, working on traffic growth projection, traffic analysis, failure simulations and delivery of annual network augmentation plan. • Used WANDL MIND tool to evaluate TWC backbone design with multi-layer network modeling and CapEx cost modeling. • This work discovered a more cost-optimal network design and eventually led significant changes to TWC backbone. |
|
| Dr. Sean Wang |
Ph.D. | MSIT511 – Management of Information Technology | Director of Office of Information Technology |
| Computer Science | MSIT525 – Information Systems Analysis and Design | DC Government | |
| George Mason University | MSIT690 – Capstone Project | • Maintain several Oracle database systems • Developed a web-based dashboard to display jail inmate count information on large monitors • Employee Accounts Management System Developed a web application for tracking employee application accounts in DC DOC • Developing a web application for tracking incidents in DC Government. |
|
| Dr. Yongzhi (George) Zhang |
Ph.D. | MSIT540 – Network Systems Design and Management MAM622 – Advanced Analytics & Modeling |
Senior Consultant |
| Electrical & Computing Engineering |
MSIT528 – Enterprise IT Application and Integration | Aczen Technology, Inc. | |
| University of Utah |
CSIS665 – Disaster Recovery & High Availability | • DOD Wideband Global Satellite, Remote Monitoring and Control Equipment System Leading system engineer. Supervised system design, develop, testing and deployment. • Authored the Technical Profile of joint tactical network management. • Department of Homeland Security. Digital Policy Management for Attribute Based Access Control. • Served as subject matter export (SME) on policy-based management. Developed DPM system framework. |
|
| Dr. Jimmy Tsai | Ph.D. | DMA621 – DBMS Design and Analysis | R&D Section Director |
| Electrical and Computing Engineering |
DMA638 – Big Data Analytical Intelligence |
Government of Taiwan | |
| Chinese Culture University |
MSIT690 – Capstone Project | • Satellite communication, telecommunication signal process • Established Remote Sensing Image Process Section and conducted remote sensing imagery processing and interpretation and promoted the establishment of remote sensing ground station. • Established Advanced Communication Laboratory and conducted around 40 different Scientific-related research projects and supervision. |
|
| Dr. Xi Jiang | Ph.D. | MSIT540 – Network Systems Design and Management | Senior Director, Applied Physics Laboratory |
| Electrical Engineering | MSIT528 – Enterprise IT Application | Johns Hopkins University | |
| University of Washington | MSIT690 – Capstone Project | • DOD Wideband Global Satellite, Remote Monitoring and Control Equipment System Leading system engineer. Supervised system design, develop, testing and deployment. • Authored the Technical Profile of joint tactical network management. • Department of Homeland Security. Digital Policy Management for Attribute Based Access Control. • Served as subject matter export (SME) on policy-based management. Developed DPM system framework |