SIUE business school outlines growing cybersecurity specialization, student research

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees heard a presentation Thursday from the SIU Edwardsville School of Business on a cybersecurity specialization that school leaders say has outpaced initial enrollment projections and expanded students’ experiential learning opportunities.

Dr. Clay Williams, introduced by a university official, described the program as more than technical coursework: “We’re looking at this combination of people, process, and technology so that our students have the foundation that they need,” he said. Williams told trustees the university has emphasized industry‑recognized certifications and internships as part of students’ preparation.

Williams cited national labor data and industry trackers to frame demand: he referenced Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of roughly 30% growth in cybersecurity positions by 2032 and Cyberseek.org figures showing thousands of open roles in the region. He told trustees the program, which planned for about 50 students within five years, has grown substantially and now reports enrollments “close to double that.”

Undergraduate student Nicholas Niedeshek told the board about an undergraduate research project that pairs SIUE data with international partners to study stock‑market reactions to cyberattacks. Niedeshek described working with a University of Applied Sciences partner in Germany and using financial data available through SIUE resources: “We’re looking at if more technological companies…their stock price goes down more after they’ve had a cyberattack,” he said.

Trustees and chancellors asked presenters about recruitment, expected earnings and how graduates avoid becoming “bad actors.” Presenters said social‑engineering attacks such as phishing are common vectors and that institutions and companies mitigate risk by investing in infrastructure and by limiting sensitive data placed in third‑party cloud services. “There’s just a lot more ways that they can get access to it,” Niedeshek said when asked how bad actors gain entry.

The presentation highlighted more than 50 internship placements at more than 40 companies since 2022 and referenced opportunities for students to work on projects with federal partners and coding initiatives.

The board did not take action on the program during the meeting; presenters invited trustees to support continuing outreach and marketing to expand student pipelines and industry partnerships.