New cybersecurity program to train Mississippians in Vicksburg – Vicksburg Post

Rust College, the Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology (MCITy), and Cisco Systems have recently partnered to launch a new cybersecurity training program for Mississippians. Officials said many of the students will be instructed in Vicksburg at MCITy.
Rust College is located in Holly Springs. Dr. Johnny M. Moore is president of the school.
“(Rust College will) coordinate the overall program design, the curriculum delivery, and participant recruitment,” he said. “We also manage the partnership network, bringing together MCITy in Vicksburg, Cisco, and Accelerate Mississippi to ensure that the training meets industry standards and the workforce needs.”
There is currently a shortage of about 2,500 cybersecurity professionals in the state. 
The program will offer two pathways for students to earn credentials in cybersecurity. One pathway is a 4-month in-person track, in which students will meet five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at MCITy. The other pathway is a 6-month online curriculum that is designed for more flexibility.
The program is free to accepted applicants and includes stipends. The training courses are essentially a full-time job, which is why in-person students will be receiving a stipend of $5,000 per month, and online students will receive a stipend of $1,000 per training course. 
“For Mississippi residents and Warren County residents specifically, it means access to free, high-quality training right in their community. I think it strengthens the region's workforce, attracts new employers, and helps build a more digitally resilient economy,” Moore said. “Local businesses, I think, also benefit by gaining access to trained professionals ready to fill critical IT and cybersecurity roles. And that's the beauty of what we're doing in the great state of Mississippi. I think we're going to be one of those leading states when it comes to cybersecurity.”
Dr. Cadavious Jones is the Dean of the Division of Science and Mathematics at Rust College and serves as the co-director of the cybersecurity project.
“This project brings together education, innovation, and opportunity in a way that truly makes a difference,” Jones said. “Because we're seeing veterans, mid-career professionals, and recent graduates all come together for one goal, to build better futures for themselves and their communities.”
Jones said that since the in-person courses will be held in Vicksburg, he expects a large portion of that cohort to be from Warren County.
Dr. Denise Ferebee is an assistant professor of computer science at Rust College and is a co-director of the cybersecurity program.
“We're here to help the people that are within our state, help the people that are here in our community, and help to move the tech space forward. Especially for the people that are looking to get into this aspect in cybersecurity, helping them along that journey,” Ferebee said. “That's the whole purpose, to make sure that we are being good community citizens, not only as an institution, but also within our partnership with MCITy and Cisco Systems to make a difference.”
For more information about the program or to apply, visit rustcollege.edu/workforce-development-certificate-program or contact Rust College at (662) 252-8000.

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