UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Joseph Squillace, associate teaching professor in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), spent the fall 2025 semester at Széchenyi István University in Győr, Hungary, where he taught cybersecurity content to a diverse student body of graduate students. The international educational exchange was part of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
“During my Fulbright appointment, I taught graduate-level cybersecurity courses focused on cyber law, cyber defense, and international security issues,” Squillace said. “With students from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the classroom became a global exchange of perspectives, where discussions about cybersecurity, ethics, policy and digital threats reflected the realities of an interconnected world.”
Beyond teaching, Squillace resumed collaborations with faculty and research colleagues on cybersecurity research, cyber policy, workforce development, online child protection and NATO-aligned cyber defense initiatives.
“The assignment in Hungary grew out of years of international cybersecurity collaboration that began with a U.S.-sponsored academic delegation to Eastern Europe,” Squillace said. “As part of a team supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, I worked with academics, industry leaders and NATO partners across Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia on cybersecurity education, cyber defense and international security cooperation. Those relationships evolved into long-term research partnerships and visiting scholar invitations at both Széchenyi István University and Brno University of Technology.”
It was while those collaborations were expanding that Squillace was encouraged to apply to the Fulbright Program. He was selected in May 2025 — after an unusually competitive and delayed selection process involving additional federal review and security screening — and began his Fulbright assignment in August 2025.
“As a representative of both Penn State and the U.S. State Department, I participated in academic ceremonies, government and university events and Fulbright-sponsored programs throughout Hungary,” Squillace said. “Through Fulbright activities in Budapest and collaborations with NATO and European Union partners in Belgium, I engaged with researchers, policymakers, scholars and security leaders focused on emerging cyber threats and international defense cooperation.”
Squillace said his experiences emphasized the core mission of Fulbright: fostering mutual understanding through cultural exchange and personal relationships.
“Fulbright scholars become fully integrated with the host culture,” Squillace said. “I wasn’t simply teaching classes and returning home at the end of the day. I was deeply immersed in Hungarian academics and cultural life. I participated in university traditions and official academic ceremonies and was invited to attend sporting events, orchestras, ballets and so much more.”
The Fulbright program created opportunities for Squillace to explore Hungarian history, government and society. He experienced daily life in Hungary as both an educator and an active member of the community.
“Living in Győr provided a unique cultural perspective because of its location between Budapest and Vienna,” he said. “The city became a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, allowing me to experience the history, architecture and traditions of neighboring countries through frequent travel and collaboration. The accessibility of public transportation and the interconnectedness of the region made cultural exploration a natural part of everyday life.”
The experience also strengthened long-term partnerships that continue today.
“I maintain active research collaborations with colleagues in Hungary and Czechia, host visiting international scholars and help create opportunities for student exchanges and joint cybersecurity initiatives,” Squillace said. “My Fulbright assignment demonstrated how academic collaboration, cultural exchange and cybersecurity research reinforce the importance of international cooperation in addressing cyber threats that transcend national borders.”