(TNS) — Upon receiving the National Award for Visionary Academic Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Stout Cybersecurity Program Director Holly Yuan said she was deeply honored on behalf of many.

“While the award bears my name, it truly represents the collective achievements of our outstanding students, dedicated faculty and supporting industry partners,” she said.

Yuan received the award at the 14th annual Cyber ​​Security Summit in Minneapolis, an event that brought together cybersecurity professionals and students from across the country. They were joined by six Stout students who were awarded summit scholarships to attend the ceremony.

Regarding receiving the Visionary Academic Leadership Award for his role at Stout, Yuan said, “This nomination, which came from one of our alumni, reflects how we have built strong relationships between our program and industry partners. It shows that our approach of combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills is working. Our students achieve impressive roles in the field and employers actively seek our graduates. The award truly validates the direction of our program and the impact we are having on the cybersecurity workforce.”

Continuing, she said: “In today’s world, where digital transformation and the AI ​​revolution are reshaping every aspect of our lives, cyber security education has become more critical than ever. It’s no longer just about training IT professionals, it’s about protecting our critical infrastructure, protecting personal data and ensuring national security.

The rapid evolution of threats, especially with the advent of AI technologies, means we need professionals who can adapt quickly and think creatively. Through our program at Stout, we prepare students not only for today’s challenges, but also for tomorrow’s threats, especially as AI continues to transform both defensive and offensive cybersecurity measures.”

Yuan said their program’s strengths come from a hands-on approach to education, which is a key aspect of Stout’s title as a polytechnic university.

In addition to the work of the Cybersecurity Research and Information Center (CyROC), she said the impact of Stout’s cybersecurity program includes workshops and symposia that connect with community college instructors, cyber defense competitions against other UW- System and partnerships, along with internship. opportunities with industries and organizations.

“Beyond teaching cyber security and computer networks, I want students to develop the confidence to face complex challenges and the adaptability to keep up with evolving threats,” Yuan said. “Most importantly, I want to instill a lifelong learning mindset – because in cybersecurity, learning never stops. When our graduates leave Stout, I want them to be not only job-ready, but prepared to be leaders and innovators who can adapt and shape the future of cybersecurity.”

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