Peker, Hearst Team with Colleagues to Publish Study on Use of Blockchain with IoT Devices

A new study by Yesem Kurt Peker, an associate professor in CSU’s TSYS School of Computer Science, and Jarel Hearst, a senior student in the TSYS School majoring in game design, explores the use of blockchain with Internet of Things (IoT) devices to provide visitor authentication and access control in a physical environment. Their approach, developed with Frederick Stock of the University of Massachusetts – Lowell and Alfredo Perez of the University of Nebraska – Omaha, proposes the use of a “bracelet” based on a low-cost NodeMCU IoT platform that broadcasts visitor location information and cannot be removed without alerting a management system.

The study, which appears in the current issue of Cryptography, not only presents the design of their system, it also provides tests of its implementation. As they report, the results support the feasibility of implementing a physical access control system based on blockchain technology, given its superior performance compared to a similar system proposed in a prior academic study.

In addition to being a member of eSports team at CSU, Hearst holds a certification in deep learning from NVIDIA. Set to graduate from CSU in 2023, he aspires to become an independent game designer who works toward improving games in ways that make them easier to learn while also maintaining an adequate level of difficulty. A native of Douglasville, Georgia, Hearst also aims to complete an internship in computer science wherein he would work in both computer hardware and computer software.

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ABDC Releases 2025 Journal Review, Now Ranks Journal Edited by Phil Bryant

The long-awaited journal review being conducted by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) has been released and there are a number of news items that relate to faculty in the Turner College. One of these is the ABDC's decision to now include Compensation and Benefits Review in its journal rankings. This is big news for the Turner College as its editor, Phil Bryant , is a professor of management in the Turner College. The ABDC is proposing that the journal enter its system for the first time as a C-rated journal. Acting Turner College Dean Tesa Leonce sits on the journal's editorial board, while Turner College management professor Mark James has guest-edited an issue of the journal. Published by SAGE, Compensation & Benefits Review is the leading journal for senior executives and professionals who design, implement, evaluate and communicate compensation and benefits policies and programs. The journal supports compensation and benefits specialists and academic ex...

New Butler Center Report Identifies Employment Gaps in the Columbus Area

Officials in the Turner College's Butler Center for Research and Economic Development recently put the finishing touches on an extensive report on trends in educational programs and occupations in the Columbus area. The report also includes data on business and technology trends. According to Fady Mansour , Director of the Butler Center, there are several key takeaways from the report regarding 10 occupational gaps that currently exist in the Columbus area. First, software development occupation exhibits the biggest labor shortage, with the report adding that the TSYS School has a bachelor's degree program in information technology along with a new AI track for the bachelor's degree in computer science, both of which can qualify students for this occupation. Other educational programs are in demand, such as computer programming and cloud computing. Second, there is a gap of 30 employees per year in general and operations management. This gap could be addressed by the Turn...

Turner Business Chats with Kevin Hurt about Leadership Research Program

Our 5 September 2025 profile of Turner College management professor Kevin Hurt has been a popular one here at Turner Business . That blog post focused mainly on the portfolio of leadership research that he has steadily built up over recent years into one that is unmatched in the Turner College. We recently visited with Hurt to discuss his research endeavors. The transcript of that visit appears below. TB: ‎ Turner Business recently profiled your growing list of research publications in leadership. What would be your assessment of how your research program in leadership has gone so far? KH: Overall, it has been a rewarding journey. I appreciate that the Turner Business profile acknowledged my work, particularly in the area of servant leadership. While journal publications are a measure of success for us as faculty, to me that success also includes building the next generation of leaders. It was the latter that inspired me to leave a Fortune 500 corporation and seek...

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