January 26, 2022

VINCENNES, Ind. – The EC-Council has bestowed two prestigious awards upon Vincennes University for excelling in cybersecurity education and training across global academic communities.

VU is one of only four universities in North America honored with an Academic Circle of Excellence award. Department Chair Jaci Lederman proudly accepted the award on behalf of the VU Information Technology Department.

"Professor Greg Hirsch and I have worked extensively to build not just a degree in Cyber Security, but a culture of including cybersecurity education in all of our IT degree programs," Lederman said. "EC-Council has partnered with us throughout this journey, providing us with National Institute of Standards and Technology/National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education-aligned course outcomes and relevant hands-on curricula and labs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with EC-Council as we work toward the goal of expanding cyber security awareness into degree programs beyond information technology."

Hirsch received the Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence award. The VU Information Technology assistant professor is among four recipients recognized for their lasting impact on students, faculty, employees, and communities. 

"I am honored to receive the 2021 Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence award from EC-Council," Hirsch said. "I am fortunate as a professor to have the opportunity to educate aspiring professionals in the field of cybersecurity and to have the phenomenal support of Wesley Alvarez, director of academics, and his entire team at EC-Council to help every step of the way."

The EC-Council awards are highly regarded and widely recognized across cybersecurity communities. The cybersecurity certification body has an extensive network of academic partners from K-12, technical institutes, and colleges and universities throughout the globe, impacting tens of thousands of students each year. See the full list of winners.

According to Wesley Alvarez, EC-Council’s Director of Academics, who is based in Tampa, Florida, "It is a privilege to support and collaborate with so many institutions and educational communities around the world. 2021 has been a remarkably interesting year in which we have noticed a dramatic increase in the way educators engage and challenge students, working professionals, and career changers in and outside of the classroom. Cybersecurity is at the very tip of the education spear due to leading salary averages and demand in the field. Our award recipients have all spent countless hours dedicated to educating and preparing individuals for successful careers in the field. We are pleased to honor them as leading institutions with challenging and innovative cybersecurity programs that focus on developing employable skills."

Explore VU's Information Technology programs HERE.

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