New Champlain-NuHarbor Cybersecurity Hub Brings Students and Industry Together
On April 10, Champlain College and NuHarbor Security unveiled a new learning and work facility at Champlain¡¯s Lakeside Campus. The space gives students unprecedented access to experiential learning opportunities and strengthens Vermont¡¯s cybersecurity workforce.
The entirely renovated second floor doubles the capacity of the Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity and becomes NuHarbor Security¡¯s second physical location. Twenty-five NuHarbor staff members will relocate to the campus, fostering real-time engagement with students and faculty. This state-of-the-art facility reflects a shared commitment to building a results-oriented, hands-on approach to workforce development.
Supporting over 100 students each semester, the partnership between Champlain and NuHarbor demonstrates how higher education and private business can join forces to create meaningful career pathways. The close proximity of students and industry professionals fosters the rapid exchange of ideas, unparalleled access to on-the-job training and real-world industry experience. Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing industries, and this new workspace gives students the skills they need to succeed in the field.
¡°As I look to the future of Champlain College and the future of cybersecurity in Vermont, I see tremendous promise. The expanded Leahy Center will continue to position Vermont as a leader in this critical field. The professionals trained here will protect our critical infrastructure, our financial systems, and our privacy,¡± said Senator Patrick Leahy, ¡°They will be the guardians of our digital future.¡±
Funding for the renovation was made possible through a prestigious National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) award.
¡°Champlain College and NuHarbor are building one of the most innovative workforce development pipelines in the country,¡± said Alex Hernandez, President of Champlain College. ¡°Students are getting the real-world technical and professional skills they need to hit the ground running in the fast-growing field of cybersecurity.¡±
Champlain College and NuHarbor launched an innovative statewide dual-enrollment program in October 2024 called Vermont Cyber Start. The initiative offers up to 12 college credits, hands-on learning experiences and a clear pathway to higher education for high school students across the state. Cyber Start has garnered unprecedented interest, especially from rural students. About 70 percent of students in the program reside in communities outside of Chittenden County, highlighting the growing demand for meaningful learning opportunities and career pathways across all regions of the state. The dual-enrollment program is anticipated to grow in the coming years, advancing both the state¡¯s economic development and the broader cybersecurity industry.
“What we¡¯ve built with Champlain is rare. It¡¯s not just a program¡ªit¡¯s a blueprint for how to grow talent, drive innovation and create economic impact. We¡¯re proud to help make Vermont a model for the country when it comes to cybersecurity excellence. This is the kind of collaboration that moves the needle,” said Justin Fimlaid, Executive Director of NuHarbor Security.
“Having NuHarbor on-campus is going to further solidify Champlain’s unique career-focused cybersecurity education as one-of-a-kind in many ways,” said Ryan Gillen, Manager of the Leahy Center. He notes that, in addition to launching Vermont Cyber Start, the move and partnership brings students closer to workshops, trainings, internships, and access to bleeding-edge hardware. “We’re hoping to use this new and exciting space to partner with more organizations worldwide,” he said.
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