Dr. Eman El-Sheikh
- Associate Vice President and Professor
- eelsheikh@uwf.edu
Biography
Dr. Eman El-Sheikh is a global award-winning leader with 30+ years of experience in AI, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity. Eman serves as Associate Vice President and Professor at the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity. Dr. El-Sheikh also serves as the Chief Strategic Alliance Officer and USA Ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI. She received over $26 Million in competitive grants and several awards, including the 2024 GISEC Global Educator of the Year, 2025 and 2024 Cybersecurity Woman of the Year and World finalist, UWF Million Dollar Research Hall of Fame induction, and 2020 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity by Security Magazine. Dr. El-Sheikh leads several national initiatives, including the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, and received numerous grants to enhance cybersecurity education and workforce development. She launched the award-winning Cybersecurity for All® Program to enhance competencies and hands-on skills for evolving cybersecurity work roles.
Dr. El-Sheikh has published several books, over 100 peer-reviewed articles, and given over 150 keynote and invited talks and presentations. Eman served on the NSF/NSA Cyber-AI Project eadership team that developed AI-Cyber and Secure AI programs and curriculum for use by US universities. She teaches and conducts research related to the development, use, and evaluation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Cybersecurity. Eman founded the Florida Women in Cybersecurity Affiliate and serves on its Advisory Board. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science and AI from Michigan State University.
Education
- Ph.D., Computer Science, Michigan State University, 2002
- M.Sc., Computer Science, Michigan State University, 1995
- B.Sc., Computer Science, American University in Cairo, 1992
Speaking Topics
- Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development, Higher Education Innovation, Leadership
Select Awards and Honors
- 2025 Best Paper Award – ACM Annual Conference on Cybersecurity and Information Technology Education (ACM SIGCITE)
- Chief Strategic Alliance Officer (January - November 2025) and USA Ambassador (January 2025 - present), Global Council for Responsible AI
- 2024-2025: NSF/NSA AI-Cyber Task Force Member (one of 12 faculty selected to develop AI in Cybersecurity programs for 450+ NCAE-C designated institutions)
- 2025 and 2024 Cybersecurity Woman of the Year and World Finalist
- 2024 GISEC Global Educator of the Year
- UWF Million Dollar Research Hall of Fame Inductee: $25 million level (2024) and $1 million (2020)
- 2020 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity, Security Magazine
- October 2019 – June 2021, Member, Florida Cybersecurity Task Force
- Achievement Award for Advancing Cybersecurity Education, SAM 2016: 15th International Conference on Security and Management
- Founder, Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Florida Affiliate
