Meet the Team
Eoghan Casey, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist and Principal Investigator. As the system designer, researcher, and subject matter expert for this project, Dr. Casey leads the development and delivery of the DFSLE, and will direct analysis of results to address the research goals of this project.
Eoghan is an internationally recognized expert in data breach investigations, and author of several technical books covering digital evidence and cybercrime investigation. For over a decade, he has been dedicated to advancing the practice of digital forensic science. He is member of the IT/Multimedia Scientific Area Committee, appointed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Department of Justice to strengthen forensic science. Eoghan is Editor-in-Chief of Digital Investigation: The International Journal of Digital Forensics and Incident Response, and is on the Board of Directors of the Digital Forensic Research Workshop (DFRWS) Conference. He has conducted research and taught graduate students at Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute. Eoghan holds an active Department of Defense (DoD) Top Secret clearance and has worked with multiple US Government sponsors to research and develop new capabilities for extracting and analyzing digital evidence associated with smartphones and network attacks.
Daryl Pfeif
Co-Principal Investigator. As the DFSLE project director, Daryl supervises all program activities and actively forges DFSLE partnerships to expand the Role Model Mentor Network and identify education and career resources. Daryl is the CEO and Founder of Digital Forensics Solutions (DFS).
In addition to her role with (DFS), Daryl is the COO and a Founding Board Member of DFRWS.org a non-profit research working group that hosts global forensics events for leaders in education, government, and industry. Daryl has been actively engaged in the field of digital forensics and cyber security since 2004, supervising forensics investigations, security auditing and analysis, data breach management, training, and research. DFS has developed custom forensics software applications for NIST, The Department of Justice, and DARPA. Prior to DFS, Daryl specialized in interactive media, with an emphasis on 3-D animation, web/computer based training, distance learning, and emerging web technologies.
Karen Peterson, M.Ed.
Co-Principal Investigator. Karen is facilitating with pilot site management, project outreach, and dissemination. Karen is the CEO and PI of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP).
In addition to her role with NGCP Karen is the CO-PI for Citizen SciGirls, SciGirls CONNECT, and SciGirls CODE. These projects address gender, racial and socioeconomic underrepresentation in STEM fields. Peterson serves on local, regional and national boards which develop and administer programs designed to increase underrepresented students’ interests in STEM.
Cassy Soden
Web & Media Content Sr. Producer. Cassy is a multimedia producer, writer, and story strategist developing the DFSLE platform and content.
For over twenty years Cassy has documented and told stories that create learning opportunities, reflect peoples’ inspiring passions, encourage positive change, and deepen cultural understanding. She currently is producing online video content for Seattle Public Schools. In this role she has written and produced content for professional development on a range of topics from K-5 science, to reading, to race and equity. Cassy served as a Senior Producer/Writer & Curriculum Graphics Producer for Content Inventions on University of Washington’s Communities That Care, an extensive web video training series supported by the National Institutes of Health and Educurious, a high school curriculum program focused on biology and language arts and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to working with Content Inventions, Cassy produced videos and animations for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation featuring grantee stories, and for Catalytica, Inc., highlighting the Lumina Foundation’s effort to expand higher education opportunities.
Denise Ferebee, Ph.D.
Cybersecurity Research Scientist. Dr. Ferebee, an assistant professor of Computer Science and the director of the Center for Cyber Security at LeMoyne-Owen College, is a curriculum consultant for this project.
Dr. Ferebee received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Mississippi University for Women and a master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences and a Ph.D from the University of Memphis. Prior to teaching, she worked in the trenches for 20+ years for companies such as FedEx Services and Thoughtware Technologies.
Brad Smith
Web Technology Strategist. Brad leads the creation of the technical strategy, user-interface, and visual design of the DFSLE.
Brad is the President and Creative Director of Hot Pepper studios. He has produced award-winning work for clients such as PBS, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Hewlett-Packard, Reclaiming Futures, Compassion & Choices, Annenberg’s Learner.org, and Twin Cities Public Television. As President and Creative Director of Hot Pepper Studios, Brad leads the creative and instructional design for educational projects that include; Mentor Profiles for Junior Achievement, Conquistadors: Online Learning Adventure, Children’s Hospital, Life 360 (for PBS), and worked with educational advisors for Bridging World History (Annenberg), The Biology Project (Annenberg). Brad recently developed customized interactive media tools and collaborated on the instructional design and content for Forensics: Examining the Evidence.
Jill Denner, Ph.D.
Educational Research Scientist. Dr. Denner is a senior research scientist at ETR and is collaborating with Dr. Casey with research analysis of the DFSLE project.
Jill does applied research with a focus on increasing the number of women, girls and Latino/a students in computing. Dr. Denner also has led the development of several after-school programs designed to increase children’s opportunities to become producers, not just users, of technology. Current research projects include a synthesis of research on how children learn while creating computer games, a study of how to build a pathway from high school to community college in information and computer technology fields, an evaluation of a climate change education video game, and studies of the role of peers and families in Latino/a children’s STEM educational pathways. She is nationally recognized as an expert in strategies to engage girls/women and Latino/a students in computer science, in both K–12 and community college, and regularly does peer review of journal articles as well as grant proposals for the National Science Foundation.
Educational Development Center
The Educational Development Center (EDC) is providing evaluation services for the pilot project of the Cyber Sleuth Science Lab.
EDC is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. EDC collaborates with public and private partners to create, deliver, and evaluate programs, services, and products.
Digital Forensics Solutions
Digital Forensics Solutions (DFS) is a Woman-Owned, HUBZone Certified Small Business based in New Orleans, Louisiana established in 2005. Digital Forensics Solutions specializes in consulting, training and software development for Digital Forensic Investigation, Incident Response, and Security Awareness.
In addition to performing extensive case work for corporate clients, DFS has authored specialized forensics software for NIST, DARPA, and the National Institution of Justice. The Digital Forensics Solutions staff is highly trained and certified and has made significant research contributions to the digital forensics community.
National Girls Collaborative Project
The vision of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) is to bring together organizations throughout the United States that are committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The NGCP implements a tested, comprehensive program of change that uses collaboration to expand and strengthen STEM-related opportunities for girls and women. In each state, the NGCP model creates a network of professionals, researchers, and practitioners, facilitating collaboration and delivering high-quality research-based professional development. We strengthen the capacity of projects by sharing research-based exemplary practices, program models, and products, and train and mentor participants to collaborate and create partnerships at the state and local level. Professional development is offered through webinars and face-to-face training.