Kean to Lead Regional Hub of $1.5 Million Cybersecurity Initiative
Kean University has been selected to lead a regional effort to examine how college cybersecurity programs prepare students for careers and contribute to the economy as part of a new $1.5 million national initiative funded by the National Security Agency (NSA).
The two-year initiative will establish the Economic Assessment National Center (EANC) and six regional hubs to assess the contributions of institutions designated by the NSA as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C). Led by Coastline College in California, this initiative is funded through the NSA’s NCAE-C program.
“Cybersecurity is critical to our nation’s future, and Kean is committed to preparing students for opportunities in this growing field,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “Our selection to lead the Mid-Atlantic hub reflects the strength of our cybersecurity program and gives Kean an important role in a national effort that extends well beyond our campus.”
Stanley Mierzwa, Ph.D., director of Kean’s Center for Cybersecurity, said Kean’s selection as a hub reflects years of engagement with the NSA CAE program and its national network of cybersecurity educators.
“It's been a continuous building up of our relationships, activities, engagement and leadership in the community,” Mierzwa said. “That’s what really gave us a chance to be part of it.”
Kean will lead the initiative’s Mid-Atlantic hub, working with approximately 85 institutions across the region, facilitating collaboration and helping support the national goals. All six regional hubs will work with designated institutions to gather regional perspectives and develop a consistent framework for measuring the impact of cybersecurity education.
“Cybersecurity education must prepare students for today’s challenges and help us anticipate and meet the evolving needs of our workforce and economy,” said Joseph Youngblood II, Ph.D., chancellor of Kean Ocean and Kean Global. “By leading this Mid-Atlantic regional hub, Kean will bring institutions together to better understand graduate outcomes, assess the economic impact of cybersecurity education, and generate actionable insights that inform future investments, strengthen academic programs, and expand pathways to meaningful careers in this critical national security field.”
Mierzwa has been actively involved in the NCAE-C community, contributing to its development and chairing research sessions at its annual national conference. Kean’s community outreach efforts also helped distinguish the University. According to Mierzwa, Kean ranked fifth nationally in community outreach among participating institutions last year.
“It shows that the work we’ve been doing goes beyond our state and toward the region,” Mierzwa said.
The initiative will develop a common framework for evaluating the results of cybersecurity education, examining factors such as graduate outcomes, industry certifications, workforce pathways and economic contributions. The goal is to make better use of existing data, reduce reporting burdens and help institutions and federal stakeholders better understand the return on investment in cyber education.
The Economic Assessment National Center is funded through the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program within the National Security Agency under Award H98230-2-1-0027.
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