Fountain Valley, CA | May 17, 2024
Dr. Tobi West, Coastline College Cybersecurity Professor, was honored with the Lorraine Prinsky Innovation Award at the college's annual Academic Senate Luncheon, held Tuesday, May 14th, at the Student Services Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Coast Community College District Board of Trustees President, Dr. Lorraine Prinsky, presented the award.
Dr. Tobi West and District Board of Trustees President Dr. Lorraine Prinsky
Dr. West became an integral part of Coastline College's community the first day she began teaching and she continues to demonstrate innovation in teaching and professional development. She is also involved in the college community and shares her vast knowledge with her peers. She presented a Flex Day workshop on password security to faculty, classified, and administrators; she is a member of the Academic Senate; she is the Department Chair for her Discipline, and is an active member of several cyber organizations.
Cybersecurity is an interesting discipline, and Professor West has added extra dimensions to both her classes and to the extracurricular activities that she has developed and oversees. Her younger students are juniors and seniors in high school, but her classes also encompass older, returning students who may be fearful about returning to school. She has found a way to work with this diverse group of students interested in this field. She is especially aware that this is a field dominated by men, and mentors the women in her classes and clubs to become confident in their own knowledge and achievements.
One of her most exciting events was a site-based forensics event hosted at one of Coastline’s learning campuses, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was fascinating to watch the students track clues and resolve issues.
Dr. West founded Coastline’s CyberTech Girls for middle and high school students to support empowerment for females in technology. She also developed a week-long GenCyber camp, where she brought together high school teachers and community college faculty from several institutions to collaborate on the development of activities and curriculum. This enabled faculty to take materials back to their respective campuses to host Cyber events of their own. Her latest venture is the application for a B.A. degree for Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security to be offered at Coastline College.
Coastline is very proud that Dr. West developed and nurtured Coastline’s Cybersecurity program, which led to being awarded the 2020 Exemplary Program Award (one of two) from the Academic Senate of California Community Colleges.
The Lorraine Prinsky Innovation Award was established by Coastline Community College District Board Trustee Dr. Lorraine Prinsky and is awarded by peers to a faculty member who demonstrates innovation in some matter at the college.
About Coastline College:
Coastline College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For eight consecutive years, Coastline College was selected as one of the top 150 colleges by The Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence which is considered the most prestigious designation for community colleges. Coastline delivers flexible courses and services that cultivate and guide diverse student populations across the globe to complete pathways leading to the attainment of associate degrees, certificates, career readiness, and transfer to four-year colleges/universities.
Coastline College
11460 Warner Av.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
www.coastline.edu