Fayetteville, NC — September 25-26, 2025
Under the theme “Pathways to Employment: Driving Student Success,” the Carolina Cyber Network’s Fall 2025 Convening at Fayetteville Technical Community College delivered two days of high-impact collaboration, immersive learning, and workforce alignment.
Strategic Collaboration and Cyber Immersion
The event opened with concurrent stakeholder strategy sessions, including the Business and Industry Advisory Board and CCN Member Advisory Board, setting the tone for deeper collaboration between education and industry.
Meanwhile, attendees dove into “Escape Room: Firewall Breach,” an immersive, hands-on challenge where teams had 90 minutes to contain a simulated cyberattack. The room blended technical problem-solving with real-world urgency, a fitting metaphor for today’s cybersecurity climate.
Strengthening Public-Private Cyber Partnerships
The afternoon featured a keynote by Bernice Russell-Bond, North Carolina’s Chief Information Security Officer, who delivered a compelling message on the power of public-private partnerships. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration across sectors, she highlighted how these alliances are key to building a robust cybersecurity workforce pipeline, particularly for critical infrastructure and government sectors.
Students Get Real-World Insight — and Real Opportunities
As faculty explored strategies on Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designations, students packed into a lively, honest conversation designed to demystify the leap from classroom to career: Breaking In: Advice from Early-Career Cyber Pros.
The momentum carried over into the afternoon at the Cyber Career Fair, where the Student Center transformed into a buzzing hub of opportunities. More than a dozen employers connected directly with students preparing for careers in defense, healthcare, financial services, and beyond.
Curriculum, Clubs, and Capstones
Day Two opened with coffee, conversation, and another run at the Escape Room, then shifted into deeper academic discussions.
Victoria Ferrell and Tony Brown of Forsyth Technical Community College kicked off the session with updates on K-12 engagement and curriculum alignment, underscoring the importance of early and consistent exposure to cyber pathways.
Next, the CyberSafe Communities panel, led by leaders from the Carolina Cyber Center, showcased how colleges and students are working directly with municipalities and businesses to improve their security postures — while learning to explain cybersecurity issues in plain language for nontechnical audiences.
Scaling What Works
Late morning and afternoon breakout sessions tackled some of the most pressing challenges in cyber education:
- Capstone project design aligned with real-world employer needs.
- Cyber club development as a dynamic engine for student engagement.
- AI-infused interdisciplinary curriculum, bridging cybersecurity with healthcare, biotech, and manufacturing.
- Transfer pathway alignment, helping community college students transition smoothly to four-year institutions.
Each session highlighted CCN’s core values: industry alignment, experiential learning, and inclusive access to cybersecurity careers.
Reception and Reflection
The convening wrapped up with a reception hosted by FTCC’s Culinary Arts Department, providing a final opportunity for reflection and connection. Mark Sorrells, President of FTCC and Director of the Carolina Cyber Network, closed with a call to action, reminding attendees to “Think big, collaborate deeply, and remain relentlessly focused on student outcomes.”
As cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated, the message is clear: The Carolina Cyber Network is not just preparing students for jobs, it’s cultivating the ecosystem to secure our shared future.
