Set to launch in Fall 2025, the program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skill and practical experience required to address cybersecurity needs in Arkansas and throughout the U.S. It will align with national standards, including the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Framework, to ensure graduates are prepared for industry-recognized certifications and job roles.

 “Ouachita has a successful track record in starting and sustaining new programs,” said Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president. “Since 2016, the university has started a dozen new undergraduate and graduate programs that have helped fuel a 22% enrollment increase and one of the state’s leading graduation rates. This provides confidence Ouachita will effectively steward our program to prepare more cybersecurity professionals for Arkansas.”

 Ouachita received a $437,500 Workforce Strategy Grant from the Arkansas Department of Commerce on Nov. 14 as part of the Higher Industry Readiness Through Educational Development program, which supports education initiatives that prepare employees to work in Arkansas’ fastest-growing industries. The funds cover program start-up costs including cloud services, salaries and equipment for a cutting-edge cybersecurity lab designed to simulate real-world environments where students can test their knowledge in network security, ethical hacking and digital forensics using high-end laptops, dual monitors, forensic analysis tools and penetration-testing software.

 Scott Anderson has joined the faculty in the Patterson School of Natural Sciences as instructor of cybersecurity. He comes to Ouachita having served as chief external affairs officer at Little Rock’s Forge Institute, which provides personal and corporate cybersecurity, data science and emerging technology training.

 “Data integrity and security impacts every market sector, including banking and finance; enterprise management; global IT; government; supply chain and logistics; manufacturing; law enforcement; transportation; medical; legal; utilities; and national defense,” said Arkansas Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers. “It’s the first level required to protect Americans. And Scott is a national subject matter expert in cybercrime prevention and data integrity.” 

 A native of Washington, Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Science in operations management from the University of Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1996 as a communications and navigations apprentice and, after eight years of active duty, joined the Arkansas Air National Guard where he cross-trained to cyber systems operations.

 Anderson was commissioned an intelligence officer in 2008 and qualified as a mission operations commander (MOC); he went on to become an instructor, MOC subject matter expert, and chief of standards and evaluations, executing multiple intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2020, he retired with the rank of major as commander of the 223rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing.

 He then joined the team at Forge Institute, where his responsibilities included curriculum and business plan development; leading innovation, training and cyber programs; and ensuring compliance in national security collaborations.

 “This experience honed my ability to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into engaging, comprehensible coursework, ensuring students are well prepared for successful careers,” Anderson said. “Teaching and mentoring are passions of mine. My time in the military and my professional roles have underscored the importance of integrity, discipline and community engagement. These values resonate deeply with Ouachita’s mission and emphasis on authentic Christian faith and personal discipleship.”

 Anderson and his family are active members of The Church in Malvern.

 “We’re excited both to broaden our computer science program into the cybersecurity area and to add Scott Anderson to our faculty,” said Dr. Tim Knight, professor of biology and dean of the Patterson School. “The HIRED grant has positioned us to get a jump on this expansion.”

 Students will have the opportunity to build a strong foundation in computer science and cybersecurity fundamentals during the first two years of the program. Elective courses offered at this level may be packaged as a cybersecurity minor – an option that can increase a student’s earning potential as basic skills become increasingly necessary in industries where securing online communication and data management is critical.

 In the program’s final two years, advanced cybersecurity courses will be offered to program majors and as specialized modules for students in other fields such as law, communications, healthcare and education.

 Curriculum will be supplemented by hands-on learning in the lab, where students will conduct in-depth cyber investigations, analyze malware and implement security protocols. They’ll have access to cloud platforms to help them understand cloud security, virtualization and the challenges unique to securing cloud-based infrastructure. In simulated real-world cyberattacks, they can develop skills required to detect vulnerabilities, respond to incidents and implement security controls.

 The program’s advanced courses will be enhanced through internships that offer experience in securing digital environments; through alliances with Arkansas businesses, students can work directly with organizations on relevant security issues. All these opportunities have the added benefit of building professional networks that can lead to jobs after graduation.

 For more information about Ouachita’s Bachelor of Arts program in cybersecurity, contact Dr. Tim Knight at [email protected] or at (870) 245-5528.