For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today attended a roundtable discussion with university leaders in Cambridge, Mass., hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on ways for the Department to increase collaboration with academia to engage the talents of the nation’s best and brightest instructors and students to support DHS—particularly in the fields of cybersecurity and science and technology research.
“America’s colleges and universities play a vital role in developing the next generation of homeland security leaders,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I look forward to expanding our partnerships with academic institutions on educational programs and hiring initiatives that enhance our capabilities to protect our nation against evolving threats.”
During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano highlighted the Department’s strong partnerships with universities including support for training, coursework in homeland security-related fields and industries, and for research and development in science and technology, such as the DHS Centers of Excellence, which bring together multidisciplinary homeland security research and education assets of more than 200 institutions across the country.
In addition, Secretary Napolitano reiterated her commitment to engaging with cyber experts in academia to develop innovative new ways to enhance cybersecurity, improve public awareness about the importance of safeguarding America’s computer systems and cyber networks from attacks, and educate the next generation of our national cyber workforce.
Today’s meeting included leaders from Babson College, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College, the University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, Roxbury Community College, and Wellesley College.
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