Strengthening the Cybersecurity Pipeline

Barack Obama recently became the first U.S. president to write a line of computer code as part of a national push for computer science education. That initiative couldn't have come soon enough, according to Nada Marie Anid, Ph.D. (pictured above), dean of NYIT School of Engineering and Computing Sciences. In a FoxNews.com op-ed on March 22, she writes that "In addition to playing an increasingly central role in business, computer science know-how is vital to America's economic and national security."

Efforts to bolster cybersecurity all face the same obstacle: a shortage of talent. Anid outlines several steps toward devising a long-term strategy to build the pipeline of skilled professionals. She also adds, "It won't be enough to simply encourage more Americans to earn degrees in computer science. Students also need access to tech immersion programs to see the practical implications of their studies."

NYIT, Anid notes, works with industry leaders to create internships and other enriching out-of-classroom experiences. She concludes, "Only through better funding incentives and hands-on immersive training can we hope to attract more young people to the cybersecurity field."

This op-ed is part of an NYIT thought-leadership campaign designed to help generate awareness and build reputation for the university on topics of national relevance.