Barbara Romano ’83 Makes $25,000 Gift to Digital Forensics

Bloomsburg Alumna Barbara Romano ’83 has recently pledged $25,000 to uplift Bloomsburg’s Digital Forensics program. After years of contributions and involvement on campus, Romano recently decided to give back to the field of study that kickstarted her career.

While Computer Science has changed drastically in the age of artificial intelligence, through this gift, Romano intends to help Bloomsburg’s Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics program stay ahead of the curve.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Barbara’s investment in the future of Bloomsburg students,” said Jerome Dvorak, Director of the Bloomsburg University Foundation. “Her gift is about more than equipment or technology — it’s about ensuring our students are prepared to lead in one of the fastest-evolving and most critical fields in the world. Barbara understands firsthand how a Bloomsburg education can transform a life, and she’s choosing to create those same opportunities for the next generation of Huskies.”

Barbara Romano completed her bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1983, which, at the time, was part of the Business College. She was quickly offered a job through a government contract, and has since had a long, successful career.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she even returned to Bloomsburg to pursue her master’s degree, a process she described as informative from both an educational, and technological perspective.

“I had to relearn how to learn in the age of online classes,” she said. “Technology is certainly not the same as it was in the 80s.”

Having completed her undergrad decades ago, these online classes were just one of many recent changes that inspired Romano to get involved with digital forensics faculty and students.

At first, she attended job fairs to help recruit Bloomsburg students, but her on-campus involvement really took off in the last 10 years.

Romano not only chaired of the Alumni Board for a time, but she regularly attends the Zeigler Institute for Professional Development Conference, and now chairs the advisory board for science and technology.

What inspired Romano’s gift, apart from the ever-changing world of computer technology, was a firsthand look at the Digital Forensics Lab in the basement of the Bakeless Center for Humanities.

While, according to Romano, computer science, digital forensics, and cybersecurity students often pride themselves on working behind the scenes “in the dungeon,” she saw a clear need for updated equipment. “If it were the 20-year-old Barbara in college today, this is what I’d be doing,” she said regarding her affinity for the problem-solving that often appears in technology-related jobs.

“I was a first-generation college student, so I understand that some students may not have support,” Romano added. “The people that come to Bloomsburg come from hardworking families. Somebody saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself – and that put me on a path, and now I’m in a position to do the same.”

This generous investment will strengthen Bloomsburg’s Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics program by helping students stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape while preparing them to succeed in high-demand, impactful careers.

To make a contribution of your own, or to learn more about how other alumni are making a difference, visit the Campaign for Bloomsburg website.