UA Little Rock secures $4.65 million grant for cybersecurity education

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 (NCAE-C) within the National Security Agency, will enable UA Little Rock to enhance its efforts in preparing high school teachers to teach cybersecurity. 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,” said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. “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.”

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