Utah State University Eastern News Release
As part of USU Eastern’s ongoing effort to introduce new faculty members to the campus community, this month’s Faculty Spotlight features Simriti Koul, a new lecturer in information technology and cybersecurity. Koul brings a blend of international experience, technical expertise, and enthusiasm for student success to her role at Eastern.
For Koul, Utah State University Eastern represents both a new chapter and a full circle moment in her journey through technology and education. Now serving as a lecturer in information technology and cybersecurity at USU Eastern, she blends academic excellence with real-world experience to prepare students for an industry that never stops evolving.
Koul’s path to Eastern began in India, where she earned her Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology, before completing a Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance at George Mason University in Virginia. During her undergraduate years, a near encounter with a cyber scam sparked her lifelong fascination with cybersecurity and a desire to help others protect themselves online. That early experience shaped both her career trajectory and her teaching philosophy.
“Technology,” she says, “is ultimately about empowering people.”
Before joining USU Eastern, Koul worked in a variety of technology roles – information systems auditor, software engineer, data input specialist, and mobile app developer – experiences that now enrich her instruction. She designs her courses, such as Advanced PLC + Lab, Introduction to Scripting, and Introduction to Networking, around applied learning. Weekly lab assignments and project options encourage students to engage directly with the tools and challenges they’ll encounter in professional settings.
One of her most rewarding moments this semester came from watching a student in her Advanced PLC class grow from a newcomer to a confident innovator, ultimately volunteering to design a functioning PLC-based wind-turbine system for their capstone project. For Koul, moments like these reaffirm the power of hands-on, student-centered learning that USU Eastern is known for.
She credits the supportive culture on campus for making her first teaching role both enjoyable and meaningful.
“My colleagues and supervisors have been generous mentors,” she said, “and my students continually motivate me to refine my approach and connect theory with practice.”
The Technology Design & Technical Education (TDTE) program, where Koul teaches, offers a uniquely flexible structure that allows students to “stack” credentials – from certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees – while gaining market-ready skills at each stage. The program’s seven-week course model helps students focus deeply on specific topics and keeps the curriculum aligned with the latest tools, trends, and cybersecurity practices.
With her blend of global experience, technical expertise, and genuine care for her students, Simriti Koul is already making a positive impact on campus and exemplifies the kind of educator shaping the future of USU Eastern’s technology programs – and the innovators who will lead tomorrow’s digital world.