Waleed Farag, director of the IUP Institute for Cyber Security and professor of computer science, was recently invited to participate in the kick-off meeting for the newly formed Regional Cyber Hub.
In an effort to combat the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in our country, representatives from several major institutions are joining together to form the Regional Cyber Hub in Pennsylvania. This initiative is backed by the White House's National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy and is being co-led by Pitt Cyber and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit with funding from the Grable Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
Farag, well-known for his considerable research and multiple federally funded projects that address the cybersecurity workforce gap, was invited to participate in this innovative and vital initiative.
The initial kick-off meeting was held on March 1, 2024, with representatives from Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, and multiple school districts in the area including River Valley. All participants joined together to assess regional needs and explore possibilities for coordinating efforts and resources to enhance cybersecurity workforce development.
The vision of the Regional Cyber Hub is to establish a robust pipeline of skilled workers who are fully equipped to navigate and respond to the evolving cybersecurity landscape. Farag said, "It is becoming increasingly evident that collaborations like the Regional Cyber Hub and other similar projects are a vital component in our overall efforts to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce. I look forward to partnering with all involved to not only enhance the cybersecurity program at IUP and establish more opportunities for our students, but to assist other educational institutions in reaching their goals as well."
Professor Farag can be reached at farag@iup.edu.
