CSUSB’s Center for Cyber & AI

CSUSB’s Center for Cyber & AI: Preparing Students for the Future

"Right now, the capabilities of AI, generative AI specifically, is earthshaking, groundbreaking, paradigm shifting," said Vincent Nestler, Ph.D., director of the Center for Cyber & AI at Cal State San Bernardino. “It's so over the top that we have to be involved in this because it's going to impact every single aspect of our lives.”

This revolutionary potential is one of the reasons the Cybersecurity Center changed its name to the Center for Cyber & AI and expanded its focus. By adding artificial intelligence (AI) into the curriculum, the center is making sure students are ready for the constantly evolving demands of the workforce. Nestler believes students who learn how to work with AI will have an advantage over others.

By integrating AI into its programs, the center is positioning students to thrive in a rapidly changing job market.

“What will happen is the people who are really good at their jobs but don’t do any AI will actually be surpassed by the folks that do what they do with the assistance of AI, or AI enhanced,” said Nestler. “What we’re endeavoring to do is to prepare students for the workforce and make sure that when they graduate, when they go to their job interview, they can speak to how they use AI.”

For students, this means new opportunities to work with the latest AI tools while still learning core cybersecurity skills. Nestler has updated the classes to include AI, encouraging students to actively use AI tools, such as ChatGPT and other AI programs, to enhance their learning. This approach not only introduces students to the latest AI applications but also trains them in secure, private AI usage — a critical skill in cybersecurity. Students are now working on projects such as programming AI robots and solving real-world problems using AI, giving them hands-on experience that prepares them for future careers.

"Right now, the capabilities of AI, generative AI specifically, is so earthshaking, groundbreaking, paradigm shifting. This is going to have a major impact on the workforce at large.”

Vincent Nestler, Ph.D.

director of the CSUSB Center for Cyber & AI

CSUSB unveils California’s first School of Cyber and Decision Sciences

CSUSB reached a historic milestone on Oct. 25 with the formal unveiling of the School of Cyber and Decision Sciences — the first of its kind in California — and renaming the school’s Cybersecurity Center to the Center for Cyber and AI. These announcements were made during the Cyber Ecosystem Leadership Forum, which brought together more than 250 attendees from academia, industry and government and included keynote addresses by White House Deputy National Cyber Director Harry Wingo, U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) and Principal Director Diba Hadi of the Department of Defense’s Cyber Academic Engagement Office. Their support highlighted CSUSB’s leadership in preparing students for jobs in cybersecurity while expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities.

“I’m fortunate to be speaking at a university that is leading in cyber education,” said Wingo. “Cal State San Bernardino is developing a new generation of cyber students. These students will be ready to tackle emerging technologies that are shaping our world — through cyber and AI today and quantum tomorrow.”

The School of Cyber and Decision Sciences and the Center for Cyber & AI are located at CSUSB’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC).

Learn More about JHBC

Cal State San Bernardino, set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, is a vibrant hub of education and culture in Inland Southern California. The university offers more than 70 traditional baccalaureate and master’s degree programs, education credential and certificate programs, and a doctoral program, all housed within five academic colleges and the Palm Desert Campus.

Not only is a degree from CSUSB affordable and attainable, it is also a pathway to a brighter future. Ranked No. 3 nationally for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, CSUSB helps students rise to great opportunities, securing high-paying jobs while keeping costs low.

The university is consistently recognized for its academic excellence, affordability and commitment to empowering students and communities to achieve their fullest potential.