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About

Julie A. Rursch is a pioneering researcher whose work sits at the vital intersection of information technology education and cybersecurity workforce development. Her primary research areas include IT career pathways, inquiry-based learning, and cyber defense education for secondary school students. Rursch’s most significant contribution is the creation and implementation of the IT-Adventures program, an innovative initiative that uses inquiry-based learning through cyber defense, game design, and robotics competitions to spark high school students’ interest in IT careers. Her seminal 2009 paper on this program has garnered 57 citations, establishing it as a foundational work in K-12 IT outreach. Notably, she also developed a “playground” computer network testbed, allowing students to safely learn and practice cyber defense skills in a hands-on environment. Rursch’s research further explores the critical role of non-IT teachers in facilitating these programs and examines group-level social support mechanisms that influence students’ decisions to major in IT. Her work has directly shaped how educators and policymakers approach the challenge of building the next generation of cybersecurity and IT professionals.