UA Little Rock Awarded $4.65M to Advance Cybersecurity Education

Philip Huff and Sandra Leiterman head UA Little Rock's cybersecurity programs. (Photo provided by UA Little Rock)

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded a $4.65 million grant to expand cybersecurity learning opportunities nationwide.

The grant, funded by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity within the National Security Agency, will enable UA Little Rock to enhance its efforts in preparing high school teachers to teach cybersecurity.

UA Little Rock will collaborate with academic partners DePaul University in Chicago and the University of Louisville, as well as Dark Enterprises, a nonprofit advancing cybersecurity education. The grant’s principal investigators are Sandra Leiterman, cybersecurity education research professor, and Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity.

“This funding will allow us to build upon the success of the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) and help address the nationwide shortage of high school cybersecurity teachers,” Leiterman said in a press release. “We have 175 scholarships available for teachers for the upcoming summer cohort and an additional 175 for the summer 2026 cohort. This grant enables us to make a meaningful impact by increasing the number of skilled cybersecurity teachers in classrooms in Arkansas and across the country.”

The grant marks the third major award supporting the NCTA, a graduate certificate program that equips high school teachers to teach cybersecurity. UA Little Rock was among the first institutions in the U.S. to offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education, which also qualifies teachers to teach concurrent enrollment cybersecurity courses. This provides more opportunities for high school students to earn college credits and shorten their pathway to earning their college degree.

The new funding will also expand the NCTA to five additional institutions: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Arizona, Dakota State University, Sacramento State and the University of Maryland Global Campus.

The grant also provides funding to establish a learning community for NCTA graduates, offering professional development and peer support.

“We are committed to leading the charge in cybersecurity education,” UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said in the release. “By growing the number of teachers with the skills and resources they need to inspire the next generation, we’re not only addressing a critical workforce gap but also positioning Arkansas as a hub for innovation in cybersecurity. This grant supports a transformative step forward for education and industry alike.”

Huff emphazised the importance of fostering a collaborative learning environment in the release.

“Our goal is to create a community of educators who not only feel confident teaching cybersecurity but are also empowered to inspire their students to pursue careers in this critical field,” Huff said. “By supporting these teachers, we’re building the foundation for a stronger and more secure future.”