On Thursday, UNC Greensboro and its Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics celebrated a major milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Spartan Cyber Guardian Academy (SCGA), the university’s new groundbreaking cybersecurity clinic.
The event took place at the Bryan School – which will house the clinic – and drew university leaders, community partners, faculty, and students.
“Today we celebrate a milestone that will have a profound impact not only on our university but also on our broader community,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. J. Alan Boyette. “Through the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared commitment, UNCG is in a strong position to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time — cybersecurity.”
This initiative, funded by a $1 million grant from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund, marks a significant step in addressing the need for a skilled and diverse cybersecurity workforce. “I am looking forward to the immense impact the SCGA will have over its lifetime through the training and outreach it will provide to not only our students that will help them land high-paying jobs in cybersecurity but equally importantly, to our external partners in the community,” said Interim Bryan School Dean Dr. Joy Bhadury.
The SCGA will train more than 870 individuals in the next six years, spanning from high school, community college, and university students to graduate-level scholars and organizations, arming them with practical cybersecurity knowledge and skills critical to the success of organizational cybersecurity practices. The UNCG clinic will also work with 174 nonprofits and businesses, offering essential cybersecurity services including auditing, training, and remediation to entities within the Piedmont Triad region that lack resources or dedicated cybersecurity teams.
“With the increasing complexity of cybersecurity incidents, hands-on training for students and preparing them for real-world experiences has become essential. However, such training and facilities are often inaccessible to many, including students from underserved communities and non-profit organizations,” said Dr. Moez Farokhnia Hamedani, assistant professor and PI on the grant. “Thanks to the generous $1 million grant from Google, we can bridge this gap by offering free training sessions to students and employees of organizations that lack access to these resources. The cumulative knowledge and experience gained by these individuals will not only positively impact their career paths but also enhance the overall quality of cybersecurity in our region.”
The clinic opening marks a significant feather in the cap for the Bryan School’s Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, though a fitting one given its continuous innovation and desire to push curricular boundaries in growing areas such as generative artificial intelligence for business and more. “This not only puts us on the national map, but it aligns very closely with our vision to establish our department as a leader in innovative education, cutting-edge research, and impactful community engagement,” says Dr. Lakshmi Iyer, ISSCM chair and co-PI for the grant. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to be engaged with the community while gaining real-world experience. At the same time, community organizations benefit because we can help them evaluate their infrastructure.”