Cambridge College Announces New Partnership with George Mason University’s National Security Institute (NSI)

Boston, MA:  Cambridge College is proud to announce a new partner in the National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. This partnership, formalized in March, seeks to address the pervasive lack of under-represented groups in the technology industry, specifically within cybersecurity roles. With more open positions each year than there are skilled applicants, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand and this partnership aims to expand the inclusion of women and people of color in the Cybersecurity workforce.

As a national leader in producing research and actionable policy changes for national security, NSI draws on the expertise of prominent political, military and private sector experts who have held senior positions in the intelligence, defense, technology, and law sectors. Founded on a social justice-driven mission, Cambridge College has actively championed the development of diverse and under-represented groups for professional roles across a spectrum of sectors. With a student body comprised of more than 70% women and 60% people of color, Cambridge College is also one of only two private minority serving institutions in Massachusetts. In addition to linking students to noteworthy cybersecurity leaders and professionals, the institutions will work together to launch the Nat Sec + Tech Diversity internship program which will provide hands-on experience to a diverse group of students in the technology, cyber, and national security space.

“This new partnership with Cambridge College is just one piece of NSI’s effort to fulfill the commitment that we made in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd last summer,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI’s Founder and Executive Director. “The fact of the matter is that our national security and technology policy community is simply not as diverse as it ought be, and we are going to take concrete steps to help address that problem, and I want to thank NSI Visiting Fellow Gary Evee and Cambridge College President Deborah Jackson for their leadership in making this partnership a reality,” said Jaffer.

“We created bachelor’s and certificate-level programs in cybersecurity that are affordable, flexible, and accessible to the under-represented audiences we have historically served, to address the industry’s glaring diversity gap. We recognize the critical need to work with industry partners, such as NSI, to support our students in developing their careers and professional networks in the process,” said Cambridge College President Deborah C. Jackson. “This exciting partnership with NSI will allow us to access their expertise and amazing thought leaders in support of our academic program, while also continuing to advance our overarching effort to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the talent pipeline for this industry,” shared Jackson.

About Cambridge College:

For 50 years, Cambridge College has been a leader and pioneer in adult learning. With a main campus in Boston, Massachusetts, and four regional locations nationwide, we provide academically excellent, time-efficient, and affordable higher education to a diverse population of adult learners. Cambridge College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE, formerly known as NEASC), with various degree and certificate programs that enable students to earn the credentials they need to advance in their careers.

About NSI:

The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School aims to be the intellectual powerhouse supporting a robust American national security posture—dedicated to incorporating a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and finding real-world answers to hard national security questions and providing them to policymakers in a way they can easily consume. They strive to educate future leaders and to shape the debate on critical issues by providing balance to the public discourse and identifying solutions that both enable a robust national defense and safeguard our constitutional liberties.