NSA designates Massry School a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through 2028
ALBANY — The University at Albany’s Massry School of Business has been named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, a federal recognition that affirms the school’s leadership in cybersecurity education and research.
The designation, awarded by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, applies to the school’s Master of Science in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity program and is valid through 2028.
The honor comes through the NSA’s National Information Assurance Education and Training Program and reflects the program’s academic rigor, institutional commitment, and alignment with national security workforce needs. Launched in 2020, the 36-credit graduate program builds on the school’s undergraduate digital forensics degree, the first of its kind in New York when it debuted in 2013.
“Cybersecurity is a complex field, and students need to be trained rigorously in both fundamental concepts as well as their applications to be effective in their roles,” said Sanjay Goel, professor and chair of Information Security and Digital Forensics. “This designation demonstrates our dedication to producing cyber professionals skilled in forensics, incident response, and risk management.”
Students in the program choose from one of three specialized tracks — digital forensics, cybersecurity, or cyber operations — and gain hands-on experience in the university’s advanced cybersecurity labs, including facilities focused on SCADA systems, forensic analysis, and cyber operations. Graduates have gone on to careers in government, private industry, and public-sector agencies as IT security analysts, forensic investigators, and threat hunters.
The Massry School’s approach includes student engagement in real-world research through initiatives like the InSURE program and the Center for Forensics Analysis of Complex Energy and Transportation Systems. According to Dean Paquita Davis-Friday, the federal recognition bolsters Massry’s role in shaping a skilled cybersecurity workforce while expanding access to Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security internships and programs.
In addition to the CAE-CD designation, the university also holds a Center for Academic Excellence in Research distinction through 2029, a separate recognition for institutions with high levels of research activity in cybersecurity-related fields.
Massry’s programming has also earned national accolades for its efforts to promote equity and opportunity in business education.
The school received the 2024 and 2025 Inspiring Programs in Business Awards from Insight Into Academia, in recognition of its EY Leadership Education in Accounting and Diversity Program and EY Trajectory Program, which trains students in security risk analysis through semester-long internships.
