Message from the Director of Cybersecurity

In recent years, cybersecurity has emerged as a major focus of national and international concern, as nations, organizations, and individuals recognize both the benefits of the digital revolution and the scope of its vulnerabilities and threats. Today, artificial intelligence is reshaping this landscape at remarkable speed. AI gives defenders powerful new tools to detect, analyze, and respond to attacks, while also giving adversaries new capabilities and creating a new class of systems that must themselves be secured. As a result, cybersecurity and AI have become areas of intense research activity and great professional demand. Federal agencies and industry alike continue to call for qualified professionals who can protect our national information and infrastructure, and increasingly for professionals who understand both fields. Universities must not only intensify their research in these areas but also produce qualified practitioners and experts who can work confidently at their intersection.

As the director of the Fordham Center for Cybersecurity and AI (FCCAI), I welcome you to our programs, where you will gain the knowledge and skills to succeed as a sought-after professional in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Over the past several years, we have worked to bring AI into the heart of our cybersecurity education.Our students learn how to use AI to defend systems and data, and how to protect AI models, data, and pipelines from attack, guided by a strong foundation in the ethical and responsible use of AI.

No matter the background or interests you bring, you will find the best match for your education and career goals here. The FCCAI orchestrates collaboration among departments and schools across Fordham to offer undergraduate and graduate certificates and degrees in cybersecurity and AI. For example, the FCCAI coordinates joint academic programs between disciplines, such as Computer Science and Political Science, and between faculties, such as Arts and Sciences, Business, and Law. Our programs are flexible, allowing students and working professionals to select courses that match their goals, and most programs offer a combination of weekend, online, evening, and hybrid courses.

Our programs are distinctive in offering small classes taught by leading experts in academia and industry. Students gain extensive hands-on lab experience, including applying machine learning to real security problems and testing the robustness of AI systems, along with networking opportunities and career support. Fordham’s faculty members are known for their expertise and their high-profile education and research activities, and they give their all to support the academic needs and goals of their students.

Once again, I welcome you to our programs and to the FCCAI, and I hope to see you on campus soon. I look forward to helping you succeed and achieve your educational and career goals.

Dr. Thaier Hayajneh
Founding Director, Fordham Center for Cybersecurity and AI (FCCAI)