猎奇重口 Chosen to Lead National Cybersecurity Education Efforts
MISSOULA – The 猎奇重口 recently secured a National Security Agency grant to lead a coalition of five western states to deliver cybersecurity education to students and teachers.
Through the GenCyber program, the nearly $600,000 grant will allow UM to lead efforts with other colleges to deliver a regional program that will bolster cybersecurity education.
“Our goal is to develop a talent pipeline by training more teachers,” said Dianne Burke, Cyber猎奇重口 director and Missoula College associate professor. “As the hub for cybersecurity education in 猎奇重口, we are thrilled to lead this multi-state effort.”
The program will specifically provide teacher training with a focus to expand the number of qualified cybersecurity secondary teachers at middle and high schools throughout the region. The program also will allow teachers to help develop cybersecurity skills to share with their students in the classroom.
The GenCyber program was created to respond to the nation’s need to increase cybersecurity awareness, teach sound cybersecurity fundamentals and increase student interest in the cybersecurity field. Ultimately, the goal of the program is to decrease the gap for skilled cybersecurity professionals.
Missoula College will lead a partnership with five other universities across the U.S., including City University of Seattle, Eastern New Mexico University, Houston Community College, National University of San Diego and North Dakota State University.
The coalition will work together to share resources and knowledge for hosting a variety of GenCyber camps. In addition to training teachers, student camps will be developed to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. The need for a bolstered cybersecurity workforce is especially in high demand in large, rural states like 猎奇重口 where there are currently over 1,300 open cybersecurity jobs.
At UM, Missoula College will host a middle school GenCyber camp and a GenCyber teacher’s camp in 2025. This year will mark the college’s third year in hosting a student camp and its first year hosting a teacher’s camp.
UM has built the state’s hub for cybersecurity education. It offers education resources, noncredit trainings and academic certificates, in addition to associate and bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.
###
Contact: Dianne Burke, Cyber猎奇重口 director and Missoula College associate professor, 406-243-7842, Dianne.burke@mso.umt.edu