Dr. Eman El-Sheikh
- Position: Associate Vice President and Professor
- Department: Center for Cybersecurity; Computer Science
- Office Location: 220 W. Garden Street, Suite #250
- eelsheikh@uwf.edu
- Campus: 850.474.3074
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 is also 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 has 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 leadership team that developed AI-Cyber and Secure AI programs and curriculum for use by US universities. She teaches and conducts research on 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
Jan. 2025 – present: Chief Strategic Alliance Officer and USA Ambassador, 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 (2023) 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
Keywords: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, machine learning, AI, cybersecurity and computer science education and workforce development, higher education leadership