Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Thursday (Oct. 31) a $1 million grant to establish a cybersecurity research and education center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

UA Little Rock will use the funding to establish the Center for Cyber ​​Operations Research and Education (CORE), which will enhance research opportunities and support the development of Arkansas’ future cybersecurity workforce.

“When it comes to cybersecurity, we are only as strong as our weakest link,” Griffin said. “UA Little Rock provides a shield and a sword for Arkanians as one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity programs. Its faculty focuses on providing real-world knowledge to its students. The CORE Center will enhance the program’s ability to produce well-trained students who will in turn protect our citizens and their businesses and join the fight against foreign and domestic adversaries in cyberspace.”

The funding will be used to design and renovate more than 5,000 square feet of space in the Engineering and Information Technology building that will house the CORE Center, providing a safe space for students and faculty to collaborate on sensitive projects in partnership with community leaders. law enforcement and industry mentors.

In addition, the funding will pay the salary of an Operations Coordinator and a Chief Financial Officer for the CORE Center for two years. UA Little Rock’s cybersecurity program currently manages more than $5 million in annual grant funds.

The addition of these two positions will allow UA Little Rock to obtain new grants, integrate new students and provide service learning experiences through initiatives such as the cybersecurity clinic, which will allow faculty, law enforcement and industry mentors to work together to to provide students with hands-on experience that will also serve the community.

“The support we receive from the attorney general’s office is an investment in the future of Arkansas,” said UA Little Rock Provost Ann Bain. “This funding empowers UA Little Rock to remain a leader, ensuring we can continue to innovate, educate and develop the skilled professionals Arkansas businesses need in the face of growing cyber threats. Together, we are building a cybersecurity workforce that will protect and strengthen Arkansas from the inside out.”

“We are deeply grateful to Attorney General Tim Griffin for this significant investment,” said Dr. Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity at UA Little Rock. “This funding allows us to establish a dedicated, safe space that provides students with hands-on learning opportunities, protects our communities and enhances the educational experience at UA Little Rock and our partner universities and community colleges across Arkansas. Through this support, we will help create a safer Arkansas and foster meaningful, long-lasting careers that help protect our nation and its critical infrastructure.”

The UA Little Rock Cybersecurity program is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) with a Cyber ​​Defense (CAE-CD) designation and is a member of the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics to support the community’s cybersecurity needs . The program supports collaboration with community colleges and partners across Arkansas, with a particular focus on minority and underrepresented student populations.

UA Little Rock also serves as a hub for the National Cyber ​​Teaching Coalition, which has trained more than 100 high school teachers to teach cybersecurity and artificial intelligence courses in competitive high school courses. UA Little Rock plans to expand this initiative to provide this training to teachers in every school district in the state.

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