Alden Trust Grant Powers Creation of Cybersecurity Teaching Lab at St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence University has received a $200,000 grant commitment from the George I. Alden Trust to support a new Cybersecurity Teaching Laboratory that will enhance the University’s newest academic major: Cybersecurity.
The grant continues the Alden Trust’s longstanding partnership with St. Lawrence, which has strengthened campus learning facilities at pivotal moments—including support for the Bloomberg Finance Lab. The Cybersecurity Teaching Lab builds on that momentum, supporting critical infrastructure upgrades to transform a traditional classroom into a specialized environment designed specifically for one of today’s fastest-growing and most in-demand fields.
The lab will provide a dynamic, collaborative learning environment where students develop technical expertise and knowledge through simulations, collaborative projects, and real-world problem solving. Planned for completion this spring and summer, the Cybersecurity Teaching Laboratory is expected to open its doors to students and faculty in fall 2026. The Cybersecurity major is the seventh academic program launched at St. Lawrence since 2020, reflecting the University’s commitment to expanding interdisciplinary offerings aligned with emerging career opportunities.
“We are grateful to the George I. Alden Trust for its generous support of this important new facility, which will strengthen experiential learning opportunities for students in our new Cybersecurity major,” says President Kate Morris. “This investment will help prepare students for one of today’s fastest-growing fields through a liberal arts focus that complements interdisciplinary perspectives with content expertise.”
Assistant Professor of Computer Science Kevin Angstadt ’14, who helped guide the Cybersecurity major from concept to approval, says the program was intentionally designed to balance technical depth with flexibility. “The new Cybersecurity Lab will serve as the hub for cybersecurity education at St. Lawrence, enabling us to teach a range of courses that bridge the gap between theory and practice and provide our students with the hands-on experience they need to excel in this rapidly evolving industry,” he says.
St. Lawrence is among a select group of liberal arts institutions offering a full Cybersecurity major. The University’s emphasis on mentoring, experiential learning, and career preparation is further strengthened by its alumni network, ranked No. 1 in the nation by The Princeton Review’s Best Colleges 2025.
“I am impressed with and proud of our Computer Science faculty, who worked diligently to bring this program from concept to approval in a short time,” Morris says. “They embody our ability to design compelling programs within the evolving landscape of higher education.”
