ISC2 brings together academic and industry leaders through its Academic Advisory Council to strengthen the connection between cybersecurity education and workforce readiness.
The council serves as a forum for collaboration between higher education institutions, cybersecurity practitioners and industry leaders. By sharing insights on emerging workforce trends and employer needs, members help inform educational experiences that better prepare students for cybersecurity careers.
Drawing on workforce research, certification expertise and a global community of cybersecurity professionals, ISC2 helps facilitate meaningful collaboration that supports students, institutions and the profession as a whole.
What is the ISC2 Academic Advisory Council?
The ISC2 Academic Advisory Council is a group of academic and industry leaders who collaborate to strengthen cybersecurity education and help align academic programs with workforce needs. The council provides strategic guidance on emerging cybersecurity skills, workforce readiness and educational pathways that prepare students for successful cybersecurity careers.
This group helps identify opportunities to strengthen curriculum alignment, student preparedness and connections between academic learning and professional practice.
Get Involved with the Academic Advisory Council
Academic and industry leaders interested in advancing cybersecurity education are encouraged to learn more about the ISC2 Academic Advisory Council and related academic recognition opportunities. Through collaboration and shared expertise
ISC2 recognizes institutions that support student success through acceptance of ACE credit recommendations for ISC2 certifications and those that align academic programs with ISC2 learning and certification pathways.
To find out more information on the council and our recognition pathways, please email recognition@isc2.org.
Academic Advisory Council Members
The ISC2 Academic Advisory Council includes cybersecurity educators, academic administrators and industry professionals from colleges, universities and organizations across the cybersecurity ecosystem. Together, members provide diverse perspectives on curriculum development, workforce readiness and student success.
- Chair, Brian Callahan, ISSMP, CISSP, CCSP, SSCP, CC , Director of the Cybersecurity Research Center at Monmouth University,
- Alecia Bailey, CC, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Seminole State College,
- Matthew Burch, CISSP, Professor, Northwest Vista College,
- Dianne Burke, Head, Cyber Montana, Faculty, Carroll College,
- Eric Burnett, Associate Dean of Education, California Institute of Applied Technology,
- Kim Cornell, Assistant Professor & Director of the Cybersecurity & Cryptography Lab, University at Albany,
- Terry Cullum, Program Lecturer, Southern Mississippi University,
- Amie Dsouza CISSP, Senior Manager, Security Products, Charles Schwab,
- Daphne Gerstner CISSP, Manager, Security Engineering, Amazon,
- Jay James, Cybersecurity Operations Manager, Auburn University,
- Jonathan Low, CISSP, Head of Cyber Curriculum/Instructor, 2U/UPenn,
- John Linkowsky, CISSP, Professor, Mercer County Community College
- Michael Qaissaunee, Professor and Chair - Engineering and Technology, Brookdale Community College
ISC2 Academic Recognition Program
The ISC2 Academic Recognition Program celebrates institutions that advance cybersecurity education through meaningful alignment with industry standards and credential pathways. These recognition tiers reflect varying levels of engagement and support for student achievement, workforce readiness, and lifelong learning.
Email us at recognition@isc2.org to find out more information on our Academic Recognition Program.