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�鶹ӳ�� formally opened its new Cyber Operations Center Monday afternoon, celebrating a transformative learning space made possible by a $450,000 federal earmark secured by U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-Jamestown).

The center, located in Walsh Science Center 101, will serve as a high-tech training hub for students preparing to enter one of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields.

Langworthy called the center an investment not only in the university, but in the region’s economic and national security future.

“We are commencing a major investment in future security and competitiveness for our region and for our country,” he said. “This center positions students to lead in one of the most critical fields of our lifetime, providing training on tools and scenarios typically available only in major government facilities or elite private-sector labs.”

Dr. Erin Sadlack, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, emphasized how the facility allows students to engage in complex, hands-on cybersecurity labs that mirror real-world professional environments.

“This innovative facility will greatly expand our ability to offer students the tools and experiences used by industry professionals every day,” she said. “Just as importantly, the center is designed to foster teamwork, a critical component of effective cybersecurity work.”

Dr. Jeff Gingerich, university president, highlighted the center as a key step in �鶹ӳ��’s commitment to experiential learning. He joined Langworthy in the ceremonial cutting of the “ribbon” — which was actually a cable, symbolic of the technology in the space.

“This hands-on space gives our students the chance to work exactly as cyber professionals do in the real world,” said Gingerich, who expressed his appreciation for Langworthy’s advocacy. “Cybersecurity jobs are expanding rapidly, and this center ensures that our graduates are ready to step into those high-demand roles with real experience and confidence.”

The federal funding, announced in March 2024, supported advanced cybersecurity display systems, high-end computing workstations, sophisticated instrumentation, and a secure computing environment to house cyber-attack materials for training purposes.

“We are truly proud of what this center makes possible and grateful to everyone whose vision and hard work brought it to life,” Sadlack said.

Dr. Chris Bopp and Brian Kellogg, members of the Computer Science faculty, and several Cybersecurity students offered demonstrations on the capabilities of the technology in the center.

Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh, O.F.M., vice president of Mission Integration, offered a prayer to formally bless the facility.

The university has 45 students in its Cybersecurity programs: 31 in its undergraduate program and 14 in its master’s degree program.

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�鶹ӳ�� the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, �鶹ӳ�� is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, �鶹ӳ�� was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).