Alabama Power, a leading energy provider committed to supporting education and community development, has made a generous donation of $100,000 to Talladega College. The funds will support the Talladega College Center for Cybersecurity, a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, recently named in honor of Talladega College Board of Trustee member Essye B. Miller.
"We are immensely grateful to Alabama Power for their generous support," said Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, President of Talladega College. "This exemplary contribution, combined with the recent naming of the Talladega College Center for Cybersecurity after Essye B. Miller, will enable us to enhance our cyber defense programs and empower our students to thrive in this critical field."
Terry Smiley, Vice President of Eastern Division for Alabama Power, expressed his appreciation for Miller's vision and commitment to utilizing her tools and resources for the benefit of Talladega College. "We extend our heartfelt thanks to Essye Miller for her vision and commitment to utilizing her tools and resources for the betterment of Talladega College," said Smiley. "Her leadership has been instrumental in driving the development of the Talladega College Center for Cybersecurity, which will equip students with the necessary skills to excel in the cybersecurity industry."
Smiley also serves on the Talladega College Board of Trustees. He was recently elected vice chair.
The Center for Cybersecurity at Talladega College will provide students with state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, and comprehensive educational programs to develop their expertise in cybersecurity. This investment will not only benefit the students but also contribute to the overall cybersecurity resilience of communities across the region and the nation.
“It is important for us (Alabama Power) to invest in communities that we have the privilege to serve,” Smiley added.
Talladega College currently offers a Bachelor of Arts in cybersecurity, which prepares graduates to compete in careers such as incident response and business continuity analysis, information systems analysis, programming, network engineering, security analysis, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and enterprise consulting. The institution also has an online Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS), which offers a cybersecurity concentration.
Alabama Power's donation demonstrates its continued dedication to supporting educational institutions and fostering the next generation of professionals. The Company is actively contributing to the advancement of cybersecurity education and the development of a skilled cyber workforce.
