- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $150,000 NSA Grant to Host Cybersecurity Educational Program Across Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 12:50:05 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a nearly $150,000 grant from the National Security Agency to hold a year’s worth of free cybersecurity educational events for junior high and high school students in Arkansas. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will partner with Philander Smith College to host the 2nd Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training camp in Arkansas, which will support the state’s long-term investment in secondary school cybersecurity education. The grant will fund a free two-week cybersecurity summer camp at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in July 2023. In addition to the summer camp, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will host a series of quarterly education events designed as escape rooms with cybersecurity challenges to get Arkansas students excited about cybersecurity education. Those working on the grant include Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cyber Arena, and Dr. Suzan Anwar, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate, assistant professor, and department chair of computer science at Philander Smith College. The Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training program will be offered at no cost to up to 100 rising 7th-12th grade students in Arkansas. There will be both a virtual and in-person camp option so that students from across the state can participate even if they are unable to travel to Little Rock. Students will also participate in hands-on activities in cyber attacks and defense provided through ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Cyber Arena, which already provides cloud-based cybersecurity labs to more than 500 virtual students in Arkansas. “Students will learn how to think like a hacker and stop cyber criminals in their tracks,” Leiterman said. “Each day will feature a world-renowned expert speaker in cybersecurity and the top hands-on cybersecurity training in the region. We will bring partners from industry, academia, and professional development organizations to provide multiple pathways to a cybersecurity career.” This two-week camp focuses on the GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts. Participants will hear from industry experts about career opportunities and will learn about cybersecurity with state-of-the art hands-on activities that allows the students to experience cyberattacks from both the victim and adversary side. “I will teach portions of the camp, provide assistance to the teachers teaching the camp, assist in content and curriculum development to ensure it is relevant and unbiased to the target audience,” Anwar said. “Philander Smith College undergraduate student researchers will assist with camp preparation and develop cybersecurity labs and the GenCyber escape room used for outreach activities.” Those interested in the GenCyber programming should for more information.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Will Offer Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Education Through National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy

John Hill — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 13:43:50 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $750,000 grant from the , located within the National Security Agency, and will be one of the first universities in the country to offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education through the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy is a collaboration of 10 institutions in nine states that will offer the first credentialing program for high school cybersecurity education in the country. The inaugural program will prepare 90 high school teachers to teach an advanced cybersecurity course. “Providing these educational resources to our partners at the secondary level strengthens our fight against cyber crime while attracting more students into a reliable and exciting career pipeline,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “The demand for cybersecurity professionals shows no sign of slowing down as more businesses become increasingly dependent on technology.” Teachers who are accepted into the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy will receive funding covering tuition for the 12-credit hour virtual graduate certificate. Teachers who complete the academy will also have the option to complete six additional credit hours that will certify them to teach dual/concurrent enrollment cybersecurity courses. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy is an excellent fit with Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s and the Arkansas Department of Education’s efforts to make K-12 computer science education a priority. “With the increasingly complex cyberthreats our nation has endured and will continue to face, it is the responsibility of our state and schools to produce students prepared to defend our systems against those threats,” said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science education at the Arkansas Department of Education. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has remained a great partner to the Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Initiative since it was started by Governor Hutchinson in 2015. The announcement of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock team seeking out and being awarded a federal grant which will provide cybersecurity training to Arkansas high school teachers is another example of their continued and innovative commitment to the initiative, our educators, and students of Arkansas.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of only three universities in the country who will offer the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy, along with the University of Louisville and DePaul University. Each university has a regional college and community college partner who will help with curriculum development and teacher recruitment. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s partners are California State University, Sacramento and Estrella Mountain Community College. “This is a great opportunity for high school teachers,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “They will get experience in a new subject where expert knowledge is required. Teachers who complete the academy will come back with real-world experience in teaching cybersecurity classes, an in-depth understanding of cybersecurity, and great materials for their future courses. The program will help teachers provide students with opportunities in one of the fastest growing careers in the country.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students demonstrate the universitys cloud-based cybersecurity lab, the Cyber Arena. Photo by Ben Krain.

The academy’s partner institutions will also work with DARK Enterprises, a nonprofit that specializes in cybersecurity education at the secondary education level. The coalition will provide opportunities to build pathways toward dual/concurrent enrollment and 2+2 programs with high schools. The graduate certificate program is grounded in the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines, the development of which was pioneered by DARK Enterprises and the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation. This will move high school cybersecurity education toward a more standardized body of knowledge to build courses and pathways. The first cohort of the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy will begin with an Introduction to Cybersecurity Education course in the spring 2022 semester followed by six credit hours during summer 2022. In their second summer, teachers will study the working environment for cybersecurity professionals and complete a practicum with local industry partners to gain real-world experience. Cybersecurity remains one of the most in-demand careers in the country. This new graduate certificate will help fill the gap for cybersecurity professionals in the state. “Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field, in which the need for qualified employees is far outpacing the number of available candidates,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the Cyber Arena. “One way to address this shortage is by increasing awareness and interest in cybersecurity by providing high school students with the fundamental knowledge they need in order to pursue a career in cybersecurity. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy will help to bridge the gap between the job demand and the size of the workforce needed to fill the vacancies.”�� People may register to receive more information , or contact Jenny Daugherty at jenny.daugherty@darkenterprisesinc.com for questions about the program.

Forge Institute Partners with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Cyber Arena to support NSA-sponsored Cybersecurity Summer Camp in Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:45:14 +0000

The has announced a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s , the cybersecurity-focused lab within the Department of Computer Science. The initiative will support the first National Security Agency (NSA)-sponsored GenCyber Summer Camp in Arkansas for 7th-12th graders. The free cybersecurity summer camp is part of an initiative that brings educators, industry, and state leaders together to drive interest and long-term investment in secondary school cybersecurity education. It is funded by a $100,000 grant from the NSA. “This program provides students with an engaging experience,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This unique camp ensures a fun time for students at all levels of technical ability. We want each student to come away feeling excited and confident about cybersecurity. The Cyber Arena provides experiences in phishing, ransomware, cryptography, forensics, and many more types of hands-on technologies. Plus, each day students reflect on ethical questions in cybersecurity and data privacy, learning through recent events. We hope to send campers back home pumped up to learn more about cybersecurity classes offered at their schools.” Forge Institute is providing instructors and guest speakers from its vast network of subject matter experts. The organization is also assisting with curriculum development by providing insight to spark the interest of the camp’s participants and encourage their pursuit of a career in cybersecurity. “This is going to be an exciting two weeks for all of the participants,” said Scott Anderson, executive director of Forge Institute. “They will have an opportunity to hear from experts in cybersecurity from across the nation and come away with more awareness of what a career in cybersecurity looks like. This is a fantastic opportunity for Arkansas students. I am hoping many will choose a career in IT or cybersecurity. Events like these are essential to growing the state’s pipeline of talent that our organizations need to protect their systems and networks. We are excited about Arkansas’s first GenCyber Summer Camp and our partnership with the awesome team at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, who is making cybersecurity education a priority for their faculty, students, and the state’s future workforce.” Forge Institute has helped promote this opportunity and will be involved throughout the execution of the camp, along with post-camp activities to hopefully make this an annual event.��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host first ever NSA GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp in Arkansas

John Hill — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 17:37:44 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a prestigious, nationwide summer camp for junior high and high school students who want to learn the latest skills in the high-demand field of cybersecurity. The camp is offered at no-cost to students. The Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training Program is open to any rising students in grades 7-12. The two-week summer camp will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 12-16 and July 19-23. The program is sponsored by a $100,000 grant from the National Security Agency and provides some of the best cybersecurity training for secondary school students from the top educators across the nation. Students will have the opportunity to work with hands-on cyber attacks and defense workouts in the Cyber Arena and hear from world-renowned experts in the cybersecurity profession. Students may attend the program virtually or in person at the Cyber Arena in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “Students will learn how to think like a hacker and stop cyber criminals in their tracks,” said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the��. “Each day will feature a world-renowned expert speaker in cybersecurity and the top hands-on cybersecurity training in the region.” This two-week camp focuses on the GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts. Participants will hear from industry experts about career opportunities, and will learn about cybersecurity with state-of-the art hands-on activities that allows the students to experience cyberattacks from both the victim and adversary side.�� Participants should fill out�� to apply for the Arkansas GenCyber Strength Training Program.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock partners with Forge Institute, U of A to Advance Applied Research In Cybersecurity to Support National Defense

John Hill — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 22:51:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is partnering with the and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, to advance applied research in areas that support national defense, including cybersecurity. This partnership is a first-of-its-kind opportunity in Arkansas and will lead to competitive research, collaboration opportunities, and create a platform for economic growth and job creation. The partnership will focus on next-generation cybersecurity defensive capabilities for industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA) to further the protection of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Initial university collaborators will be Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and Dr. Chris Farnell, managing director of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) testbed at U of A. “The Emerging Analytics Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been working with the Forge Institute for over a year,” Huff said. “We are pleased to extend this collaborative effort to work on some of the nation’s most challenging cybersecurity artificial intelligence problems. This collaboration will enable access to applied research opportunities for Arkansas students and research faculty.” The joint team will leverage the capabilities of the , the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) testbed at U of A, and the professional and experienced team and capabilities of the Forge Institute. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and U of A are designated as academic centers of excellence by the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The U of A is also a U.S. Department of Energy center of academic excellence. This collaboration brings together the best resources, research, and capabilities of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and U of A, along with the unique capabilities and relationships of the Forge Institute. Forge Institute will collaborate with key researchers to enable access to unique research opportunities in support of the nation’s national defense. “We are excited to partner with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ��Vlog��ý Fayetteville to develop innovative solutions that will help address our nation’s complex and growing cyber and national security challenges,” said Lee Watson, chairman and CEO of Forge Institute. “By connecting to and building upon the existing cyber and defense sector in the State, we are establishing a foundation to drive innovation that will directly lead to high-paying jobs for Arkansans. I’m excited about this collaboration and how it will better position our state and country to defend against advanced cyber adversaries and grow the State’s economy.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock joins coalition to launch health care cybersecurity curriculum and pilot focused on veterans and first responders

John Hill — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:53:57 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is part of a coalition of universities and industry partners that are developing a curriculum to increase cybersecurity talent focused on health care with $6.3 million in funding from the National Security Agency.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock will work with the University of Louisville, the University of North Florida, Bluegrass Technical and Owensboro Technical, the , and a coalition of industry partners to develop a training curriculum focused on health care cybersecurity. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will receive $640,000 for the three-year grant. “As health care data generation becomes increasingly complex, it is absolutely critical that patient health information be secure and protected. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies enable new methods of data protection,” said Dr. Mariofanna Milanova, professor of computer science and principal investigator on the grant for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The pilot phase of the health care cybersecurity workforce certificate initially will provide free�� training for 200 first responders and military veterans. The certificate incorporates technology industry badging from Microsoft, IBM, and Google as well as hands-on applied learning and gamification components. Participants will learn how to protect information systems used by patients, providers, and payers in the health care industry.

Lee Watson, CEO of Forge Institute

��Vlog��ý Little Rock will work with the Forge Institute, a nonprofit organization that specializes in developing private-public partnerships that advance cyber operational objectives. The Forge Institute will help test the cybersecurity curriculum through its existing cybersecurity boot camp, where participants are trained to become cybersecurity analysts. “Our team is proud of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for being selected to participate in this research consortium led by the University of Louisville,” said Lee Watson, CEO of Forge Institute. “The team at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a deep bench of capability in researching and developing new tools and models for education delivery. This collaboration between the Forge Institute and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will allow us to develop, better tailor, and test cybersecurity curriculum for the veteran and first responder communities.” Program participants will complete the three-level certificate program in six months through online courses led by instructors from coalition institutions, gaining expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, internet of things (IoT), machine learning. and other areas.

Philip Huff

The curriculum will employ innovative training tools including gamification and make use of anonymous datasets and use cases provided by industry partners. Once developed, the curriculum will be available to other institutions free of charge for one year. The first cohort of 30-40 students is expected to be enrolled in spring 2021.�� Each of the schools in the coalition is a NSA-designated and contributes interests, experience, and skills aligned with health care cybersecurity systems. Researchers at the , an education and simulation model laboratory for cybersecurity learning, will develop next-generation tools for delivering and assessing the cybersecurity curriculum. This will provide an exciting research opportunity for students who are entering the new bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity that will begin in the fall 2021 semester. “I’m excited to work on this research project with the NSA. As a 15+ year veteran in cybersecurity, I have seen first-hand the challenges of developing a qualified workforce,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of computer science and cybersecurity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Cybersecurity is a complex field, because the tools, tactics, and techniques criminals use are ever evolving. To help address this concern, we will be developing training on cutting-edge technologies to help grow a more competitive cybersecurity workforce.” The upper right photo shows Dr. Mariofanna Milanova. Photo by Ben Krain.

NSA funds ��Vlog��ý Little Rock cybersecurity lab project

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 14:34:56 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock researcher has received funding from the U.S. (NSA) to improve cybersecurity skills for students and the general population. Dr. Mengjun Xie, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock associate professor of computer science, is working to build a virtual cybersecurity lab. He recently received an $85,912 addition to his original NSA grant, bringing the total NSA funding for the project to $124,527. The cybersecurity lab project, “Networking and Network Security in the Cloud (NetSiC),” will address issues related to cloud-based computing environments and help students practice networking and cyber defense skills. “This project is unique because it allows students to conduct networking and security practices in a computing cloud they choose, and the developed software will be free to use,” Xie said. “While other cloud-based cybersecurity labs are available, they either do not provide enough flexibility or require users to pay in order to use their platform.” The virtual lab will incorporate a group of learning modules that can help undergraduate students conduct cloud-networking experiments. A second group of modules will allow students to conduct network protection and defense experiments. When the project is completed, Xie will deliver the 12 lab modules to the NSA, where they will become part of a cybersecurity curriculum that will be accessible to the public. Xie has an extensive body of published research and is known for his work in cybersecurity, network systems, data analytics, and social network analysis in bioinformatics. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the College of William and Mary. Xie will develop the NetSiC lab in the NEXUS (Networked and Complex Systems Security Research) Lab at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is among the institutions receiving the designation. The joint program of the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security is designed to reduce information infrastructure vulnerability through higher education and research. By creating��the NetSiC lab, Xie and his team aim to increase students’ knowledge of virtual networks and their ability to successfully protect and defend cloud networks. This project is sponsored by the National Security Agency under Grant Number H98230-17-1-0273. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Security Agency.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $150,000 NSA Grant to Host Cybersecurity Educational Program Across Arkansas

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Will Offer Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Education Through National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy

Forge Institute Partners with ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Cyber Arena to support NSA-sponsored Cybersecurity Summer Camp in Arkansas

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host first ever NSA GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp in Arkansas

����Vlog��ý Little Rock partners with Forge Institute, U of A to Advance Applied Research In Cybersecurity to Support National Defense

����Vlog��ý Little Rock joins coalition to launch health care cybersecurity curriculum and pilot focused on veterans and first responders

NSA funds ����Vlog��ý Little Rock cybersecurity lab project