About the Center
The Center for Cybersecurity and AI’s vision is to be recognized as a leader among peer centers and institutes nationwide, and as a preferred partner in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence research, workforce education, and professional training.
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
The mission of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI is to advance secure, responsible, and trustworthy digital and intelligent systems by integrating cybersecurity and AI education, research, and workforce development to achieve national and global impact. We accomplish this mission through:
Education
We design and deliver innovative, multidisciplinary education and training programs that integrate cybersecurity, AI, and machine learning to prepare students and professionals for an evolving, AI-enabled workforce.
Research
We advance the state of the art in cybersecurity and AI through basic and applied research that addresses real-world challenges, strengthens the security and resilience of intelligent systems, and informs responsible AI adoption across sectors.
Partnerships
We build strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships with industry, government, academia, and global stakeholders to drive innovation, expand workforce pipelines, and support economic growth and national and international security.
Our Vision
The UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI envisions a future in which secure, trustworthy, and responsible AI underpins innovation, economic competitiveness, and societal well-being worldwide.
Our vision is to be a globally recognized leader and national exemplar at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI, shaping workforce readiness, advancing research excellence, and influencing practice and policy through multidisciplinary collaboration, applied solutions, and global engagement.
A Message from Dr. El-Sheikh
As AI becomes embedded across every sector, from finance and healthcare to critical infrastructure and national security, the cybersecurity landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Today’s challenges extend far beyond traditional cyber threats. Organizations must secure AI-enabled systems, data pipelines, algorithms, and decision-making processes, while ensuring these technologies are deployed responsibly, ethically, and at scale.
The UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI has expanded its mission to meet this moment.
Through integrated education, applied research, and strategic partnerships, we address one of the most urgent global priorities of our time: advancing human potential to advance AI and cybersecurity. Developing secure and trustworthy intelligent systems requires not only technology but skilled professionals who can design, govern, and protect them. Cybersecurity and AI are no longer separate disciplines – their convergence defines the future of trust, resilience, and innovation.
The Center is nationally recognized and globally engaged for its leadership, including designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence, recognition for an NCAE-approved AI-Cyber Program of Study, and leadership of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program. Yet our vision extends well beyond recognition. We are focused on global impact: building multidisciplinary pathways, advancing applied research, and partnering with government, industry, and academic institutions worldwide to help shape secure and responsible AI ecosystems.
While we are proud of how far we have come, the pace of technological change demands continuous innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
I invite you to be part of this journey, as a partner, collaborator, researcher, or student. Together, we can advance cybersecurity and AI to strengthen the workforce, support economic growth, and build a more secure and trustworthy digital future – locally, nationally, and globally.
Eman El-Sheikh, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President
Center for Cybersecurity and AI
University of West Florida
