UNF receives NSA grant to lead regional AI cybersecurity curriculum and teacher training initiative

The University of North Florida received a National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity grant of more than $700,000 from the National Security Agency to develop curriculum on AI cybersecurity for K-12 students and teachers and expand access to emerging technology education across Northeast Florida.

The project, CyberJaxAI-PATH: Cyber AI Pathways for K-12 Education, is led by UNF in partnership with Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University and Duval County Public Schools.

Through CyberJaxAI-PATH, the coalition will develop and implement AI-integrated cybersecurity curriculum for middle and high school classrooms. It will also provide extensive professional development and hands-on cyber training for teachers, create pathways to dual enrollment and university programs, and evaluate and disseminate the resulting educational resources nationally. The initiative aims to create a stronger pipeline from K-12 to college and into the cybersecurity and AI workforce.

Dr. Swapnoneel Roy, UNF computing professor, is leading the project working with Dr. Ayan Dutta, computing associate professor, and Dr. Daniel Dinsmore, education professor and associate dean, bringing together strong expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and education.

The project aims to bring AI and cybersecurity out of textbooks and into authentic, hands-on learning experiences that simulate topics like real-world cyber defense scenarios, anomaly detection and AI-driven threat classification. Teachers will receive training and sustained support needed to bring these emerging technologies into their classrooms.

Educational resources developed through CyberJaxAI-PATH are designed to be scalable and widely accessible. The materials will be shared through the CLARK cybersecurity education repository platform, enabling educators and school systems across the country to access at no cost.