June 4, 2025
Northwest Missouri State University recently was recognized for its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.
Dr. Joni Adkins, the director of Northwest’s School of Computer Science and Information Systems, and Dr. Jerry Qin, an associate professor in the School, accepted the designation during the Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) In Cybersecurity Community Symposium in April in Charleston, South Carolina.
Northwest received notification of its designation last August and will maintain it through 2029 in coordination with the Maryland-based National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.
“It was an honor for Dr. Qin and I to accept the CAE CD designation certificate at the CAE Symposium earlier this year,” Adkins said. “Earning the designation required campus commitment to good cybersecurity practices, several professional development opportunities provided to students and faculty and outreach efforts. In the last two years, the School of Computer Science and Information Systems has hosted more than 400 high school students at cybersecurity awareness and education events.”
Northwest faculty Dr. Jerry Qin and Dr. Joni Adkins, center, accepted the University’s designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense during the Center of Academic Excellence In Cybersecurity Community Symposium in April in Charleston, South Carolina. (Submitted photo)
Enhanced by its cybersecurity laboratory and other learning experiences offered within the School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Northwest’s cybersecurity program and profession-based learning environment provides students with opportunities to conduct a variety of cybersecurity activities. Furthermore, projects are designed to give students a taste of how their future jobs could look and prepare them to help protect companies from risks and threats.
As a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Northwest students benefit from a robust cybersecurity curriculum, federal scholarship eligibility, networking opportunities with other people in the cybersecurity community and internship opportunities. Faculty receive opportunities to participate in professional development.
Institutions receiving the CAE designation have met rigorous requirements set forth by the National Security Agency (NSA). The agency awards the designations to institutions committed to helping reduce threats to the national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense while providing the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
All regionally accredited two-year, four-year and graduate-level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply to become a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. An institution must apply to be re-evaluated every five academic years.
For more information about Northwest’s Center for Cybersecurity and related degree programs, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/CyberCenter/.
