CSUSB’s Cybersecurity Center received federal funds to launch a Tech and Workforce Hub Project, a forward-thinking initiative designed to propel students into cybersecurity careers and address the nation’s shortfall of qualified professionals in the field.
Tony Coulson (cybersecurity) was interviewed for a segment about CSUSB’s cybersecurity program receiving federal funds for its Tech and Workforce Hub project, and Stuart Sumida (biology) was mentioned in an article about the recently released movie, “Kung Fu Panda 4,” for which he served as a consultant.
“This grant will be used to hire undergraduate and graduate students as assistants on this major project and give significant research experience to individuals who are, traditionally, not offered such opportunities,” said Eric Vogelsang, director of the Center on Aging.
The federal funding will help purchase state-of-the-art equipment, lab equipment and support and renovate the CSUSB Yasuda Center, which will house the MSPA program.
The federal funding for the MSPA program is part of the federal fiscal year 2023 appropriations package and will be designated to purchase teaching and lab equipment.
Brian Levin (criminal justice) was interviewed about topics related to hate crimes and extremism, and Tony Coulson (information and decision sciences) discussed a Cybersecurity Center federal grant aimed at training more students to be cybersecurity professionals.
With the grant, the CSUSB Cybersecurity Center will focus its efforts on cyber defense, cyber research and cyber operations at educational institutions across the country. The goal is to solve the cybersecurity workforce deficit, which is now estimated to be 700,000 skilled professionals.
U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, a long-time supporter of CSUSB and its Cybersecurity Center, was instrumental in the university receiving a $10.5 million grant from the National Security Agency in October 2020.
The five-year grant, “Proactive Approaches for Training Hispanics (PATHS) in STEM,” will help increase graduation rates and prepare students for graduate and professional schools.