College of Engineering

Current StudentsFuture StudentsFaculty & StaffDirectoryGive

VCU’s Cybersecurity Center to host the Richmond FBI’s Cyber Collegiate Academy

Over 300 students from Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, and Virginia State University applied for the academy, eager to gain in-depth knowledge about how the FBI catches cyber criminals.

October 4, 2023

Three students conversing with one another while working from a laptop

Beginning on Oct. 4, VCU’s Cybersecurity Center (CSeC) will host the Richmond FBI’s Cyber Collegiate Academy. Over the course of four sessions, students will get first-hand insight into FBI cyber careers and examples of tackling international hacking groups.

After attending all of the sessions, each student will receive a completion certificate from the FBI.

"VCU's Cybersecurity Center (CSeC) takes the lead in hosting the first FBI Cybersecurity Regional Collegiate Academy in Richmond, Virginia,” said Milos Manic, Ph.D., director of the CSeC and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) fellow. “Students have demonstrated overwhelming interest, submitting over 300 applications, 100 more than seats we have available.”

The FBI agents leading the event will cover topics ranging from cryptocurrency and internet scams to cellular analysis.

In addition to these topics, they will be sharing and analyzing real FBI cases to educate students on how experts solve real-world cyber crimes. These will include how agents dismantled an international hacking group and the use of technology to identify a serial bank robber.

“The CSeC, composed of four VCU schools (College of Engineering, School of Business, Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and College of Humanities and Sciences), addresses the contemporary topics of cybersecurity and establishes VCU as leading cybersecurity educator in (central) Virginia,” said Manic. “The CSeC is designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in both cybersecurity defense and cyber research.”

"FBI Richmond is excited to partner with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) again this year as we host our first Regional Collegiate Academy with students from VCU, Virginia State University and the University of Richmond,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador. “As our third iteration of our Collegiate Academy, we are fortunate that through the partnerships with these universities we are able to bring this opportunity to students who have demonstrated a desire to engage with the FBI.  Hosted during national cybersecurity awareness month, we are eager to provide this opportunity for students to hear from our cyber experts and become more aware of how their skillset could develop into a rewarding career in law enforcement."