Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Student Member
2019-Present
Contact Info
Amy.Hays@tamuc.edu Amy.Hays@tamu.eduQuick Links
SPIES Lab @ TAMUFaculty Page - Texas A&M Universirty-Commerce
Faculty Page - RELLIS Academic Alliance
About Me
As a doctoral student in the Texas A&M University's SPIES Lab, my research focuses on examing cognitive security and cyberpsychology in the context of cyberattacks such as phishing and deep fakes. My other research interests include network defenses, network capacity and performance, AI, computer science education and ethics. My background also includes studies in plant physiology, molecular biology, supply chains, and agricultural development.
As full time faculty for Texas A&M University-Commerce and RELLIS Academic Alliance, I teach computer science and cybersecurity.
As a cancer survivor and disabled person, I teach how our uniqueness with challenges are our strengths that brings new ideas and understanding to academia and industry. Did you know a higher percentage of CEO's are dylexic as compared to the whole population?
"Chance favors the prepared mind" - Louis Pasteur
"True, the initial ideas are in general those of an individual, but the establishment of the reality and truth is in general the work of more than one person"
- My Great Uncle, Dr. Willard F. Libby, Nobel Laureate Chemist and Discoverer of Radiocarbon 14 Dating
Publications and Conference Presentations
2021 International Conference on Future Intelligent Computing (ICFIC 2021) Daegu University, Linear Regression Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Health Interventions on Mental Health in the United States.
Honors & Awards
Student Government Senator of the Year Award
Texas A&M University-Commerce
2021
SGA Rising to the Challenge Award
Conference on Student Government Associations (COSGA)
2021
Change Maker Service Award Nominee
Texas A&M University-Commerce
2021
Distinguished Graduate Student Award Nominee
Texas A&M University-Commerce
2021
Phi Kappa Phi
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Distinction in Professional Development
Gold-Level
Texas A&M University-Commerce
2020
Global Learner
Texas A&M University-Commerce
2020
Employee of the Month Award
National Service Desk
Charles Schwab
San Francisco, CA
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The Charles Hess Community Service Award
University Of California-Davis
Given at graduation by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
1995
Professional Affiliations
ACM Special Interest Group on Accessible Computing
Student Member
2019-Present
ACM Special Interest Group on High Performance Computing
Student Member
2020-Present
IEEE
Graduate Student Member
2020-Present
IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Membership
Graduate Student Member
2020-Present
IEEE Computer Society Membership
Graduate Student Member
2020-Present
IEEE Women in Engineering Membership
Graduate Student Member
2020-Present
IEEE Education Society Membership
Graduate Student Member
2022-Present
Community Service
Student Government Association
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Graduate School Academic Senator
2021 - 2022
College of Science and Engineering Academic Senator
2020 - 2021
Society for Design and Process Science
Texas A&M University-Commerce
President
2020 - 2021
Cancer Support Group Student Organization
Texas A&M University-Commerce
President and Founder
2019 - 2021
Disability Resource Center
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Peer Mentor
2019 - 2021
Sulphur Springs Veteran’s Day Parade Committee
Volunteer
Sulfur Springs, TX
2017 - 2019
Community Seeds
Volunteer
Lone Oaks, TX
2017 - 2019
Dean's Student Advisory Council
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences University of California-Davis
President
1993 – 1995
Executive Committee
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences University of California-Davis
Non-voting Student Member
1993 - 1995
Languages
English
Native Language
Spanish
Novice Listener/Speaker
Education
PHD
Texas A&M University
Computer Science (Transferred in)
Thesis: Cyberpsychology and Cybersecurity
Advisor: Dr. Nitesh Saxena
GPA: 4.0
2023-2027
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Educational Psychology (Transferred out)
Thesis: Cognitive Science and Augmented Reality
Advisor: Dr. Shulan Lu
GPA: 3.94
2021-2023
MS
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Computer Science
Thesis: Methods of Neural Network Analysis to Identify Weapons in Augmented Reality
Advisor: Dr. Derek Harter
GPA: 4.0
2019-2021
Cornell University
Plant Physiology
(Written and successfully defended, not submitted)
Thesis: Measuring Plant Growth under Red and Far Red Light using Linear Voltage Differential Transducers (LVDTs) and an IBM PC.
Advisor: Dr. Daniel J. Tennessen
1995-1997
BS
University of California-Davis
International Agricultural Development and Botany
Double Major
1990-1995
Research Experience
→
Presidential Graduate Assistant
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Researcher, Dr. Sang Suh
2020- 2021
→
MPS Thesis
Cornell University
Advisor: Dr. Daniel J. Tennessen
1995-1997
→
University of California-Davis
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Dr. Alan B Bennett
DNA Isolations, PCR Reactions, Gel Electrophoresis, and RFLP Mapping. Assisted Ph.D. students with their tomato genetics research thesis projects
1994-1995
→
University of California-Davis
Undergraduate Student Researcher
C.M. Rick Tomato
Genetics Resource Center
Cultivated and cross-pollinated tomato plants
Recorded and organized tomato plant varieties in the lab database
1993- 1994
→
Hunt-Wesson Inc.
Agriculture Research Lab Computer Specialist
Dr. Thomas C. Garvey
Davis, CA
Biotech Project Management Internship.
Designed and wrote programs for all Hunt-Wesson’s Ag Research labs to analyze tomato processing data.
1992- 1995
Teaching Experience
→
Texas A&M University-Rellis
Department of Computer Science
Instructor
Lecture, grade, and design course materials
COSC 2336 Data Structures and Algorithms
CSCI 233 Application Program Development
CSCI 303 Technical Communications for Computing Professionals
CSCI 389 Web Programming
CSCI 434 Introduction to Computer Networks
The average class size is 20 Students.
8/23- Now
→
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Program Manager
NSF S-STEM Computer Science As a Career Scholars Program
6/22- Now
→
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Department of Computer Science
Instructor
Lecture, grade, and design course materials for:
COSC 1436 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
COSC 1437 Programming Fundamentals II
COSC 2336 Data Structures and Algorithms
CSCI 351 Foundations of Information Security
CSCI 352 Digital Forensics
CSCI 359 Systems Analysis and Design
CSCI 434 Introduction to Computer Networks
CSCI 497 Enterprise Architecture
The average class size is 25 Students.
1/22-Now
→
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Department of Computer Science
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Supervise Network Computer Lab Grade assignments and update Online class grading system
CSCI 430 Operating Systems
CSCI 352 Intro to Digital Forensics
CSCI 440 Application Software Project Development
CSCI 515 Fundamentals of Programming C/C++
COSC 1436 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
COSC 1437 Programming Fundamentals II
The average class size is 45 Students.
Assist students with their computer science programming questions for Python and C++, and Assembly Language.
1/20-8/20
→
Cornell University
Plant Biology
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Introduction to Plant Biology
Conducted undergraduate laboratory courses averaging 25 students per semester.
Graded assignments, assisted students.
8/95-6/97
Professional Experience
→
Telecom Capacity & Performance Planner
Charles Schwab & Co.
Plano, TX
2007- 2015
→
IT Field Support Analyst
Coppell Print Facility
Charles Schwab & Co.
Coppell, TX
2004- 2007
→
Helpdesk Support Analyst
National Service Desk
Charles Schwab & CO.
San Francisco, CA
1999-2004
→
Desktop Field Support Analyst
North American Mortgage Company
Santa Rosa, CA
1998-1999
→
Lab Technician
La Crema Winery
Windsor, CA
1997
→
Research Lab Computer Specialist
Agriculture Research Lab
Hunt-Wesson Inc.
Davis, CA
1992-1995
Internships
→
Biotechnology Management Internship
Hunt-Wesson Inc.
Davis, CA
1992-1993
→
United States Congressional Internship
Congressman Douglas Bosco
California’s 1st District U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
1990
Professional Training
→
An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching MOOC
CIRTL Network, Texas A&M University
2023
→
Exploratory Data Analysis
Johns Hopkins University, Coursera
2014
→
Getting and Cleaning Data
Johns Hopkins University, Coursera
2014
→
R Programming
Johns Hopkins University, Coursera
2014
→
Data Scientist’s Toolbox
Johns Hopkins University, Coursera
2014