Leiterman Promoted to Cybersecurity Education Research Professor

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has promoted Dr. Sandra Leiterman, manager of the Cyber Arena, to the position of cybersecurity education research professor, recognizing her expertise and leadership in the field.

"I'm excited to take on this new challenge, ready to empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, bridge the skills gap, and drive innovation in our field," Leiterman said. "My goal is to inspire students to tackle the complex challenges of today's digital landscape and to contribute to the cutting-edge research that will shape the future of cybersecurity."

In her new role, Leiterman will continue to manage the Cyber Arena while overseeing various cybersecurity education programs, advancing cybersecurity research, and working on several high-level cybersecurity grants and projects at UA Little Rock.

These projects include the continuing development of a competency-based academic program in cyber-informed engineering tailored for the energy sector, which will equip students with specialized skills to strengthen the cybersecurity expertise of operators, technicians, and engineers within the energy sector.

Additionally, she will be working on building partnerships to expand the Cyber Learning Network, a consortium of seven University of Arkansas System campuses to expand and diversify workforce education in emerging cyber technologies. UA Little Rock's Cyber Arena provides cloud-based cybersecurity workouts and simulations for the Cyber Learning Network.

In her new position, Leiterman is looking forward to helping students meet the evolving demands of the cybersecurity landscape, one of the most popular careers in the U.S. There are currently more than 3,400 open cybersecurity positions in Arkansas alone, according to Cyber Seek.

"I really want to expand access to education and help people realize there are a lot of different opportunities in the cybersecurity field," Leiterman said. "I want to be a difference maker who helps people realize their potential. By increasing their access to education and helping people find the right educational pathway, we are helping to shape their future while helping address state security, national security, and economic growth. These are all benefits of having a well informed and educated, diverse workforce."

Leiterman joined UA Little Rock in 2015 as a STEM education instructor and previously taught middle school math and science in Little Rock. She holds a bachelor's degree in middle school math and science education and a graduate certificate in gifted and talented education from UA Little Rock, as well as a master's degree in digital and teaching learning from Kansas State and a Ph.D. in Urban Education with an emphasis in Math Education from the University Wisconsin - Milwaukee. She's also pursuing a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education through UA Little Rock's National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy.