PhD student Muhammad Hassan has been selected as an IAPP Westin Scholar Award honoree. The annual awards were created by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) to support students who are identified as future leaders in the field of privacy and data protection. Honorees receive a $1,000 cash award; two years of membership with the IAPP; three complimentary exams for IAPP certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT); and unlimited access to online training for the recipient's selected IAPP certification exams.
Hassan's research focuses on enhancing the usability, data safety, and privacy of health technologies. Specifically, it aims to better understand user preferences and concerns, as well as the challenges faced by developers and engineers in the field. This understanding will help improve the design, security, and privacy performance of smart health devices and applications.
"It is an honor to be selected as a Westin Scholar by the IAPP," said Hassan. "The organization plays a vital role in protecting and preserving digital privacy, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important mission. Through this award and training, I aim to enhance research on digital health technology, focusing on the protection and safety of user data and information. This experience will be invaluable as I work towards ensuring that digital health solutions prioritize user privacy."
"I am thrilled to see Muhammad Hassan selected as the inaugural recipient of the IAPP Westin Scholar Award from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign," said Associate Professor Masooda Bashir, who helped bring the award program to Illinois. "This prestigious recognition from the world's leading organization for privacy professionals not only honors his outstanding contributions to the field of privacy and data protection, but also marks an important milestone for our university. It reflects the growing impact of our students in shaping the future of digital ethics, governance, and responsible data practices."