As cybersecurity becomes increasingly important, the continued support from federal agencies ensures cyber programs remain a pivotal part of preparing a well-equipped digital workforce.
The Davis College of Business and Technology at Jacksonville University continues to lead the way in cybersecurity on the First Coast and was just awarded a highly competitive GenCyber program grant, funded jointly by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation.
“This is a great opportunity for students of all backgrounds to explore and deepen their understanding of cybersecurity to protect others for the common good,” said Dr. Barbara Ritter, dean of the Davis College of Business and Technology “It will also introduce them to the wide variety of in-demand cybersecurity career options and inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.”
The GenCyber program, geared for students completing grades 6-11, is accessible without cost and empowers participants with essential skills in cybersafety and cybersecurity. The program aims to inspire students towards careers in a field vital for national security.
The grant awarded to the Davis College of Business for the 2025 camp covers costs for expert instructors, student workers and camp activities. This funding not only recognizes the program’s quality but also its necessity in cultivating the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Davis College will host two summer camps for middle schoolers during the weeks of June 16 and June 23. Each camp will host 20 incoming sixth to eighth grade students from underserved populations.
“We are thrilled to host the GenCyber camp and provide middle school students with the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Saeed Al-Haj, GenCyber principal investigator/program director and JU assistant professor of Cybersecurity. “By offering this camp free of charge, we aim to remove barriers to entry and inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.”
The primary goals of the camp are to increase students’ interests in cybersecurity careers and to increase diversity in the cybersecurity workforce of the nation,” said Dr. Mini Zeng, GenCyber program co-principal investigator/lead instructor, JU director for the Center of Cybersecurity and associate professor of Cybersecurity. “Another goal is to prepare students to understand cybersecurity concepts, online privacy, programming and cyberattacks.”
The awarded GenCyber NSA/NSF grant is part of a larger statewide effort to bring cybersecurity programming to K-12 students on college campuses around the state and includes participating higher education institutions like the University of North Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville and the University of West Florida.
The Davis College offers an NSA CAE-CD-designated undergraduate program in cybersecurity as well as in computer science, where courses in the area of cybersecurity, including introduction to cybersecurity, systems administration, intrusion detection, penetration testing, digital forensics, network security and computer networks, are taught by qualified professors.
The JU Center for Cybersecurity, housed in the Davis College of Business and Technology, serves as the hub of knowledge and cybersecurity training for Northeast Florida. The Center for Cybersecurity also features the JU Cyber Range, which is an immersive environment that simulates real-world networks and security tools as well as normal and malicious traffic.
For more information about the GynCyber camp or the JU NSA-CAE-CD designated Center of Cybersecurity, contact Al-Haj at salhaj@ju.edu or Zeng at mzeng@ju.edu.
