Collin College Cybersecurity Program Honored with 2023 Academic Awards from EC-Council

The Collin College Cybersecurity program received the esteemed recognition of a 2023 “Academia Circle of Excellence” and the “Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence” awards by the EC-Council.

As an internationally acclaimed cybersecurity technical certification body, the EC-Council annually honors outstanding achievements in cybersecurity training and education across global academic communities.

            “We are honored to be recognized by the EC-Council this year,” said Damien Smith, director of Workforce Cybersecurity at Collin College. “These recognitions underscore our unwavering dedication to cybersecurity education and ongoing program development. It is gratifying to be recognized on an international stage. Our appreciation extends to our dedicated faculty and our shared commitment to nurturing cybersecurity leaders at Collin College.”

            The 2023 “Academia Circle of Excellence” award, highly valued by the EC-Council and cybersecurity community, is awarded to only five recipients in North America annually. Criteria include commitment to cybersecurity education, student feedback, engagement, certification attempts, student volume, and program development.

The 2023 Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence was awarded to Cybersecurity Professor Dr. James Freedle, recognizing his profound impact on teaching, instructional assessment, student experiences, leadership, and engagement with the cybersecurity community.

Collin College has been a frequent award recipient of the EC-Council, previously honored with distinctions such as “Innovator of the Year” and the “Instructor of the Year.”

“We are again excited to present the 2023 Academia Circle of Excellence and the Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence awards to Collin College’s Cybersecurity program for their outstanding commitment to tactical cybersecurity standards and education, preparing workforce ready graduates,” said Wesley Alvarez, director of academics at EC-Council.

For more information about Collin College’s Cybersecurity program, please visit www.collin.edu/department/cybersecurity. 

Collin College serves more than 58,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management, and a new Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Clinical Operations Management. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visit www.collin.edu. 

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