Featured program
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
VITA is a program designed to assist low-income individuals and persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their tax returns. The tax preparation is provided free by IRS certified volunteers (our students) and is overseen by the Saint Martin's University School of Business.
Questions? Feel free to contact schaille@stmartin.edu.
Upcoming events
Cybersecurity Conference
Event date: February 13, 2026
Event time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT
Event venue: Cebula Hall (3rd floor), Saint Martin's University
CPE credits: 4 (CPE credits will be granted based on a 50-minute hour)
Register for the Cybersecurity Conference
Agenda
| Time | Topic | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. | Light breakfast and networking | - |
| 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. | Opening session | - |
| 8:45 to 9:35 a.m. | AI in Privacy & Ethical Concerns by Katy Ruckle and Ralph Johnson | 1.0 |
| 9:35 to 9:45 a.m. | Break (10 min) | - |
| 9:45 to 11:00 a.m. | IT Controls and Regulations by Radana Dvorak | 1.5 |
| 11:00 to 11:10 a.m. | Break (10 min) | - |
| 11:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. | Quantum Computing and Emerging Cryptographic Risks by Farzin Bahadori | 1.5 |
| 12:25 to 12:30 p.m. | Closing session | - |
| Registration type | Fee |
|---|---|
| IIA members and Saint Martin's faculty members | $70 |
| Non-IIA members or Saint Martin's faculty members | $90 |
| Students (with valid student ID) – advance registration required | Free |
All proceeds from the event will go towards the Internal Auditing Class of Saint Martin’s University School of Business.
Speakers
Katy Ruckle, Chief Privacy Officer, WaTech
Katy Ruckle, JD, was appointed as Washington state's Chief Privacy Officer in 2020.
This year she was named one of the nation’s inaugural AI 50 honorees by the Center for Public Sector AI, recognizing her leadership in shaping ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence in government.
Ruckle has been at the forefront of Washington’s AI efforts, playing a key role in developing the first AI policy for the state to ensure its ethical and transparent use. Katy also co-founded the state’s Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice, which brings together experts from state and local agencies, as well as academia.
Since being appointed in 2020 to lead WaTech’s Office of Privacy and Data Protection, Ruckle has developed foundational privacy principles, launched statewide training programs, and is leading a nationally recognized privacy program. She was also appointed to the state’s AI Task Force by the former Attorney General, now Governor Bob Ferguson.
Her latest honor adds to a growing list of accolades, including recognition as one of GovTech’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers in 2024, a StateScoop Top 50 award, and the Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award in 2023.
Ralph Johnson, State Chief Information Security Officer, WaTech
As Washington State Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Ralph Johnson, CISSP, HISP, CISM, CIPP/US, oversees statewide governance of information security policies, strategy, and compliance. He and his team respond to information security threats and incidents, providing the enterprise with extensive security services. Ralph leads his team with a holistic approach to security, often relying on his background as a HISPI certified instructor.
Since 2005, Ralph has held several positions as CISO, supporting the Los Angeles Times and Studios and the San Diego Union-Tribune through his position as CISO of NantMedia Holdings LLC. In addition, he served as CISO of LA and King counties, extending his skills to King County Privacy Officer. His depth of knowledge and experience of Information Technology spans over 28+ years.
A lifelong learner, Ralph has acquired a multitude of certificates, degrees and awards in policy development, security and privacy analysis, and information systems. Eager to share his extensive cybersecurity experience, Ralph imparts his vast knowledge as a board member to the Cyber Crime Support Network (CSN) advising on the vast threats of cybercrime.
Radanna Dvorak, Chair, Computer Science Department and Associate Professor, Computer Science, Saint Martin’s University
Radana Dvorak, Ph.D., serves as the chair of the Computer Science Department and as an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Saint Martin’s University.
Radana obtained her Ph.D. in computer science at the University of London, Queen Mary College in the UK. She also holds an MSc in artificial intelligence from the University of Sussex, UK, and a B.A.sa from the University of Michigan.
Radana’s areas of expertise include:
- Artificial intelligence - NLP/ML
- Software engineering
- Advancing pedagogy in Computer Science education: integrating AI cybersecurity and quantum computing into educational curricula
Farzin Bahadori, Instructor, Computer Science, Saint Martin’s University
Farzin Bahadori serves as an instructor in computer science at Saint Martin’s University and is a Ph.D. candidate in applied computer science at Northcentral University.
Farzin also holds a Master in Cybersecurity from DeVry University in Illinois, a Master of Science in atomic and molecular physics from Tehran University, an MSc in artificial intelligence and ML from George Washington University, and a BSc in applied physics from Tehran University.
Farzin’s background includes:
- Notable service in military intelligence, followed by a distinguished tenure as a DoD Certified Instructor in Virginia.
- Experience as a researcher, instructor, analyst and program designer.
- Cybersecurity Program Manager for MSc. And BSc. Program, City University of Seattle, WA.
Farzin’s areas of interest include AI in cybersecurity, quantum computing, quantum cryptography, artificial intelligence, cloud architecting and security and digital forensics.