After receiving approval from the Nevada System of Higher Education on March 6, 2026, UNLV established the Nevada Institute of Cybersecurity (NIC). The NIC will be a centralized, interdisciplinary hub designed to better serve the state’s key industries and government offices in securing their data, training the next generation of cyber professionals, and providing critical cybersecurity statistics to policymakers.

The institute will consolidate UNLV’s educational, research, and community outreach efforts, bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines to increase the university’s reach and provide more opportunities for academic partnerships and private company collaborations.

The NIC arrives at a critical time for Nevada. According to data from CyberSeek.org, the state currently fills only 71% of its available cybersecurity positions — lagging just behind the national average.

“The launch of the Nevada Institute of Cybersecurity represents a milestone for UNLV and our community,” said Kate Hausbeck Korgan, UNLV acting executive vice president and provost. “By bringing together UNLV’s multidisciplinary cybersecurity expertise to promote research, deliver world-class academic programs, shape the future cybersecurity workforce, and meet community needs, we are ensuring that UNLV continues to be a vital part of Nevada’s technological and economic evolution. This Institute demonstrates our commitment to solving real-world challenges through collaborative innovation.”

The Institute will oversee several initiatives, including:

• Workforce Development: Expanded hands-on learning opportunities via cyber competitions, a cyber range for simulated attack drills, and training for certifications to ensure a steady supply of job-ready professionals.
• Statewide Security Operations Center: A proposed student-augmented model to provide 24/7 threat monitoring and incident response for nearly 200 government entities across the state.
• Community Education: Public workshops and training classes to educate individuals on cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how to combat them. 
• UNLV Cyber Clinic: Boosting the efforts of this student-led organization, which provides free risk assessments and remediation to small and medium-sized businesses.
• K-12 Outreach: Maintaining a pipeline of future talent through programs like GenCyber Summer Camp and STEM engagement days.
• Research: Filling current gaps in cybercrime data to provide meaningful information to policy makers through a multidisciplinary lens.

“Nevada faces a dual challenge: a severe shortage of skilled professionals and one of the highest rates of cybercrime victims in the nation,” said Juyeon Jo, NIC executive director and professor of computer science. “This Institute is a necessary lifeline that will bridge the gap between education and employment while protecting the businesses and residents that drive our economy.”

The NIC is building upon a foundation of national excellence. UNLV has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education since 2019, a prestigious designation managed by the National Security Agency.

“Our designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education reflects our rigorous academic standards and institutional commitment to cyber defense,” said Yoohwan Kim, NIC associate director and professor of computer science. “The institute will allow us to leverage this federal recognition to attract high-caliber students and expand our research in critical areas like AI-driven threat detection, IoT security or internet security, and protecting the industries that are so vital to Nevada.”

The institute will also serve as a premier think tank, focusing research on the security of critical infrastructure, transportation systems, and secure data management. By incorporating faculty and students from multiple disciplines, and providing localized data on cybercrime trends, the NIC aims to empower policymakers to make informed, proactive security decisions for the region.

UNLV currently offers multiple interdisciplinary cybersecurity programs, a collaborative effort between the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering and the Lee Business School. UNLV's Master of Science in Cybersecurity secured the #2 spot in Fortune’s 2025 list of the nation’s top in-person cybersecurity master’s programs, and the bachelor’s program met its five-year enrollment goal in its first semester.

“We have experienced incredible success with our interdisciplinary cybersecurity programs both in terms of demand from students and in meeting the expectations of those hiring our graduates,” said Greg Moody, program director of UNLV’s master’s and bachelor’s cybersecurity programs and a professor of information systems. “The NIC will further ensure consistency in competencies, reinforce applied practice requirements, and establish an academic-to-professional pipeline.”

About the Nevada Institute of Cybersecurity (NIC)

The Nevada Institute of Cybersecurity serves as the primary hub for cybersecurity at UNLV. By uniting research, workforce development, and community education, the Institute protects state interests while fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and preparedness.