Spelman College, the highly selective liberal arts educational institution for women in Atlanta, recently celebrated the opening of the Spelman Cybersecurity Clinic, also known as The SPEAR (Security Plan, Education, Assessment, and Remediation). The clinic will provide cybersecurity services to community organizations, including small businesses, nonprofits, cities, towns, and more. Students at the women’s college will participate in the clinic’s operations, which will introduce them to real-world cybersecurity experiences.
“This clinic directly embodies Spelman’s core mission and strategic vision. Through SPEAR, Spelman is not merely participating in the tech landscape; we’re actively shaping and securing it,” said Spelman President Ayanna Howard during her remarks at the grand opening. “Spelman is committed to evolving our academic pedagogy, equipping students with career-ready consulting skills, and modernizing our digital infrastructure, and SPEAR fulfills that promise.”
Developed by Raquel Hill, professor and chair of the department of computer and information sciences, and Kerry Hixon, director of cybersecurity and information technology compliance, the facility was funded by a $1 million grant from Google as part of a $25 million collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, an international network of university-based cybersecurity clinics and allies working to advance cybersecurity education for public good. Spelman’s clinic is one of 49 clinics in the U.S. and one of 15 new clinics recently launched at higher education institutions across the country.
“Computers and their applications touch almost every aspect of our lives, including banking, retail, water systems, transportation, agriculture and power production. Our well-being and livelihood depend on these services being available and usable,” said Dr. Hill. “Spelman is preparing the next generation of Cybersecurity experts to assess and remediate risks in our current digital environments and to design and implement a more secure future for all.”