National Security Institute (NSI) and Cambridge College Announce National Security and Cyber Partnership Program to Diversify the Policy and Tech Talent Pool

July 13, 2021
Contact: Wendy Robinson
wrobins@gmu.edu

National Security Institute (NSI) and Cambridge College Announce National Security and Cyber Partnership Program to Diversify the Policy and Tech Talent Pool

Arlington, VA – The National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School is excited to announce a partnership with Cambridge College, a pioneering institution with a diverse population of traditional and adult learners located in Boston, MA.  NSI will provide Cambridge’s diverse student population with access to top-notch national security and cyber programming and professional development opportunities.  This partnership is aimed squarely at addressing the very real diversity gap in the national security and technology policy space.

NSI programming will educate a diverse cadre of Cambridge College students about the complexities and challenges of national security policymaking, giving them exposure to some of the most prominent names in national security, including the next generation of national security leaders.  NSI professional development opportunities will also help Cambridge College students learn more about careers in national security and cyber law and policy and get hands-on experience working in the field through a joint internship placement program.

“This new partnership with Cambridge College is just the one piece of NSI’s effort to fulfill the commitment that we made in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd last summer,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI’s Founder and Executive Director.  “The fact of the matter is that our national security and technology policy community is simply not as diverse as it ought be, and we are going to take concrete steps to help address that problem, and I want to thank NSI Visiting Fellow Gary Evee and Cambridge College President Deborah Jackson for their leadership in making this partnership a reality,” said Jaffer.

“We created bachelor’s and certificate-level programs in cybersecurity that were affordable, flexible, and accessible to the underrepresented audiences we have historically served to address the industry’s glaring diversity gap.  We recognize the critical need to work with industry partners, such as NSI, to support our students in developing their careers and professional networks in the process,” said Cambridge College President Deborah C. Jackson. “This exciting partnership with NSI will allow us to access their expertise and amazing thought leaders in support of our academic program, while also continuing to advance our overarching effort to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the talent pipeline for this industry,” shared Jackson.

NSI and Cambridge College recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their partnership and their joint internship program, which will provide hands-on experience to a diverse group of students in the technology, cyber, and national security space.

About Cambridge College
For more than 45 years Cambridge College has been a leader and pioneer in alternative education options. With a main campus in Boston, Massachusetts, Cambridge College provides academically excellent, time-efficient, and affordable higher education to a diverse group of students.

About the National Security Institute
The National Security Institute serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development that incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing U.S. intelligence, defense, law enforcement, homeland security, and cybersecurity communities.  NSI draws on the experience of its fellows, as well as its highly distinguished advisory board and faculty, to produce timely research and policy materials that deliver insightful analysis and actionable recommendations to senior policymakers in the White House and key departments and agencies, as well as those on Capitol Hill.

About the Scalia Law School
The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University is defined by three words: Learn. Challenge. Lead. Students receive an outstanding legal education (Learn), are taught to critically evaluate prevailing orthodoxy and pursue new ideas (Challenge), and, ultimately, are well prepared to distinguish themselves in their chosen fields (Lead).  It has been one of America’s top-ranked law schools for the last fifteen years.

About George Mason University
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 33,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states.  Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility.