Ferris State’s acclaimed AI program is first in the nation validated in Secure Artificial Intelligence by the National Security Agency

October 1, 2025

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — 

Ferris State University’s acclaimed Artificial Intelligence program is the first in
the nation to be validated in Secure Artificial Intelligence by the National Security
Agency, reflecting the quality of the cutting-edge program aimed at filling the demand
for people with advanced artificial intelligence and cybersecurity skills.

The Ferris State AI program, developed in collaboration with industry leaders and
with support from the U.S. Department of War, was the second Bachelor of Science program
in the United States.

Renae Weathers, The NAS’s National CAE program manager, said the Ferris State program
helps address the critical shortage of professionals with cybersecurity skills and
highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America’s
cyberspace.

“A highly skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage,”
she wrote in a letter to Ferris State President Bill Pink. “The United States Government
will continue to invest in and enhance programs that build the domestic talent pipeline,
from primary through postsecondary education. Education is the key to promoting these
ideals.”

“Your ability to meet the increasing demands of the program validation will serve
the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure,”
Weathers wrote.

Dr. Greg Gogolin, who oversees Ferris State’s Artificial Intelligence/Information
Security & Intelligence program, said the NSA validation reflects the quality and
the relevance of the Ferris State program and prepares students for impactful careers.

“The Secure AI designation by the NSA reflects Ferris State’s leadership in a rapidly
evolving field,” he said. “Artificial Intelligence is having a transformative impact
on our lives. We’ve built a program that prepares students for public and private
sector careers in an area where they can lead the focus on secure, ethical and appropriate
utilization of AI technology.”

Students in Ferris State’s Artificial Intelligence bachelor’s degree program focus
on designing and deploying efficient, ethical, and robust AI solutions for real-world
challenges using technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, and autonomous
agents while incorporating cybersecurity considerations. Students utilize a secured
AI lab powered with high-end NVIDIA GPU clusters in an intensive hands-on environment.