At the center of the cybersecurity conversation.
The National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College is an academic and research center dedicated to assisting government, industry, military, and academic sectors meet the challenges in cybersecurity policy, technology, and education.
The NCI is shaping a coordinated effort to build the cybersecurity workforce and influence an informed leadership base that implements cutting-edge cybersecurity policy. We target the development of effective cybersecurity practice in specific sectors, including health care, finance, utilities/energy, telecommunications, and education/training.
Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Excelsior College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
Leadership

Amelia Estwick, PhD
Director of National Cybersecurity Institute
Amelia Estwick, PhD, brings extensive experience in cybersecurity to her role at the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College. She previously worked in the Department of Defense (DoD) as a technical director within the Threat Operations Center, which is responsible for monitoring and securing DoD networks against cyberattacks. She has more than 20 years of government IT experience (both civilian and military) working in the areas of cybersecurity, information assurance, and computer network operations (offense and defense). Read Amelia’s Bio
NCI is excited to announce that Dr. Estwick was recently selected by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2021 Women Trailblazers Award!
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National Cybersecurity Institute Fellows
Weylin Brad Leavitt
Weylin Brad Leavitt is a cybersecurity leader and technical subject matter expert. He works for the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he is assigned to the chief information officer for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Leavitt is responsible for providing access and customer support to seven worldwide networks across the Indo-Pacific Command theater.
Leavitt is a 2008 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he studied computer engineering. In 2010, he became an active-duty Air Force officer and quickly became well- known among the cadre of cyber operators. He was first assigned to the Air Force Enterprise Service Desk for three years, creating policies and leading quality assurance efforts, before being deployed with the U.S. Army to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. There he fulfilled the role of system operations officer-in-charge at the Regional Network Operations Service Center-Afghanistan. After returning from deployment, he was assigned to the Air Force Computer Emergency Response Team, becoming mission-qualified and eventually commanding one of the six Air Force Cyber Weapon Systems. He was responsible for conducting various cyber defensive operations against all activities, from daily phishing attempts to large-scale network attacks.
Contact Us
Director of NCI
Amelia Estwick, PhD
518-608-8412
nci@excelsior.edu
Media Requests
Alicia Jacobs
518-464-8531
PR@excelsior.edu
Excelsior College Cybersecurity Programs
Continue the Conversation
Excelsior College National Cybersecurity Student Association Chapter
The National Cybersecurity Student Association (NCSA) encourages the educational and professional development of cybersecurity students through activities, networking, and collaboration. NCSA strives to inspire career awareness and promote creative efforts by cultivating a national community that supports students in their cybersecurity endeavors.
National Cyber League
As part of the National Cybersecurity Student Association, students have the opportunity to participate in the National Cyber League. This biannual cybersecurity competition for high school and college students consists of a series of challenges that allow students to demonstrate their ability to identify hackers from forensic data, break into vulnerable websites, recover from ransomware attacks, and more.
Excelsior College has participated in the National Cyber League since 2017 and has consistently ranked on the Top 100 Leaderboard for the past three seasons.
In the fall 2019 season, Excelsior College ranked No. 34 overall and teams placed No. 55 and No. 99 on the Leaderboard.
“I think the exposure and skills [gained] are the biggest takeaways. You learn things you would never learn in the classroom. This provides you a way to practice everything you learned, too.”
– Melissa Burger, Master of Science in Cybersecurity student at Excelsior College
Excelsior College National Cybersecurity Student Association Chapter
NCI Blog
- Female Veterans – Ready to Fill Cybersecurity Jobs!
- Cybersecurity Divas
- Risk or Resilience: A Look at Fraud, Forensics, and Cybersecurity Challenges and Career Opportunities
- Excelsior College Hosts Virtual Fraud, Forensics, and Cybersecurity Executive Panel on November 18 with Siena College
- Defending Against Hackers
National Cybersecurity Institute Journal
The National Cybersecurity Institute Journal, a peer-reviewed journal, covers topics that appeal to a broad readership within the cybersecurity discipline, with a particular focus on education, training, and workforce development. The manuscripts submitted to the Journal are reviewed for their contribution to the advancement of applied research in the area of cybersecurity.
Events and Webinars
Upcoming Events
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Previous Events
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Top leaders in the field will discuss:
- Major developments and issues in the fields of fraud, forensics, and cybersecurity, and how they impact different sectors;
- How organizations and individuals respond to changes within the fields;
- Skills and competencies required for success; and
- How market trends impact the labor force.