Chapman appointed to William & Mary Cybersecurity Center Education Director

Dr. Matthew Chapman, a teaching professor in Computer Science, has been appointed as the Associate Director of Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development for the William & Mary Cybersecurity Center.  

“I am thrilled to have Professor Chapman join us as Associate Director,” said Adwait Nadkarni, the W&M Cybersecurity Center Director. “His passion for teaching, commitment to student development, and forward-thinking perspective on cybersecurity education will be invaluable as we continue to grow. Matt’s leadership will help us broaden our reach, strengthen our partnerships, and empower William & Mary students to thrive in a rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape.”

The Cybersecurity Center falls under the Office of the Provost and is charged with facilitating innovation in research and cross-unit curriculum, teaching, and programing related to cybersecurity at W&M.

In the new role, Chapman will be responsible for strengthening cybersecurity education, expanding workforce development initiatives, and enhancing cross-campus collaboration.

Chapman said his focus is to prepare students to enter the global cybersecurity workforce.

“The most pressing cybersecurity workforce issue right now is clearly the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Virginia, the United States, and globally,” stated Chapman. “With our reliance on both local and national critical infrastructure, cybersecurity considerations are significant to both our safety and way of life.”

Chapman outlined several early priorities, including promoting educational coordination across campus units, such as the Whole of Government Center of Excellence and the Reves Center’s Global Education Office, while supporting cyber-workforce internship programs.  

These partnerships are critical, Chapman argues, as a lot of cybersecurity education happens outside of the traditional classroom.

“There is a natural intersection of education, research, and workforce development within cyber competitions, internships, and employment opportunities,” noted Chapman. “As cybersecurity is a team and international effort, study abroad programs also offer a unique opportunity to explore this field from a multi-national perspective.”

He is also focused on the integration of industry certification standards into academic coursework, supporting opportunities for students to earn professional certifications.

The new minor in Cybersecurity, which will be available for all undergraduate students in Fall 2026, will also provide certification opportunities and complements virtually any major field of study at W&M.

“Students learn to apply cybersecurity principles within their primary discipline, making them more valuable employees who understand security requirements and have domain expertise,” said Chapman. “This minor also helps to prepare students for valuable industry certification opportunities. These certifications provide additional credibility and can significantly boost employment prospects for our students, even before graduation.”

Chapman’s appointment comes as momentum continues to build within W&M’s cybersecurity community.

In 2024 W&M was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Research (CAE-R) by the National Security Agency – one of the nation’s highest recognitions for cybersecurity scholarship and training.

The university recently became a virtual institute for VICEROY Scholars, a Department of Defense–sponsored program that prepares students for careers in military, civilian, and industrial base sectors.

TribeCyber, the W&M cybersecurity competition team Chapman coaches, has also distinguished themselves, last year finishing second of more than 500 teams in the National Cyber League Spring 2025 competition.

With Chapman’s leadership and the university’s growing national recognition, the W&M Cybersecurity Center is positioned to expand its impact in training cybersecurity professionals and supporting vital national workforce needs.