Pace University recently signed an Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the National Security Agency (NSA) to develop a pipeline of science and technology talent for possible national security challenges.
In continuing its partnership with the NSA, Pace University is boosting STEM education for students by leveraging expertise and resources offered by the federal agency to support Pace’s educational programs and research projects. The partnership includes Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and will provide educational opportunities for students to meet the growing demand for skills in STEM fields.
“This next chapter in our long-standing partnership with the NSA is testament to the broad, innovative and enriching cybersecurity program here at Pace,” said Jonathan Hill, dean of Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. “The Seidenberg School has an impressive roster of cybersecurity faculty, research labs and a growing number of alumni working at three-letter agencies, national and local businesses and tech firms.”
Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems is one of the country’s few Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) with a redesignation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the NSA.
Pace University’s commitment to cyber defense education and research includes the Bachelor of Science in information technology with a focus in security and the Bachelor of Science in professional technology studies with a computer forensics concentration. Graduate programs include the Master of Science in cybersecurity, Master of Science in information technology with a cybersecurity concentration, the Master of Science in computer science with a web security concentration and the Master of Science in information systems with an information assurance career path.
“There is so much more to do,” said Dean Hill. “Cybersecurity and all it involves is critical to the digital well-being of people, companies and government. The need to address security at the global level is ever-increasing. In order to address this need for talented cybersecurity workers, we will be launching a new BS in cybersecurity in Fall ’25.”
Pace maintains three labs focusing on cybersecurity research and education. The Cybersecurity Education and Research Lab (CERL) brings together faculty research and cyber defense education.. CERL also maintains a new, state-of-the-art Cyber Range to develop the cybersecurity workforce in a way that simulates the real-world environment. Research streams include biometrics, information security management, web security, computer forensics, information technology auditing, intrusion detection and privacy. The Computer Forensics Lab focuses on research and practical experience in digital and mobile forensics and open-source intelligence analysis. The Computational Intelligence Lab offers students opportunities to develop skills in data science and machine learning and to focus on topics from Artificial Intelligence to pattern recognition.
“This new agreement will further strengthen Pace’s current collaboration with the agency and support research initiatives and workforce development for our programs,” said Li-Chiou Chen, Ph.D., executive director of CERL and professor of information technology at the Seidenberg School.
