success in innovation: the Anderson University Center for Cybersecurity exceeds expectations in more ways than one It’s important to understand that one of the early steps in creating a new academic program at any university is something called a pro forma. A Latin phrase meaning “as a matter of form,” it’s a simple projection, really. Developing an academic program pro forma essentially boils down to answering the question: Is it feasible? Or, to put it more simply: Does the plan make sense?
Anderson University is one of the fastest growing universities in the country. So it stands to reason that its administrators have conducted a number of pro formas over the years. And their projections are usually right on the mark. The Anderson University Center for Cybersecurity is a notable exception. As it turns out, to those planning for the first crop of students into the program for the fall of 2020, what happened didn’t make sense at all. Dr. Kenneth Knapp isn’t used to making mistakes. Sure, it’s an important part of learning. But for those who are as accomplished as he is, success outweighs failure by a wide margin. 2 4 | I T ’S TIM E TO C ELE BRAT E !
Dr. Knapp is well-suited to his role as the founding director of the Anderson University Center for Cybersecurity. A 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force, his resume is long and speaks for itself. Certifications in security systems, cloud security and ethical hacking. A bachelor’s degree in computer science. An MBA and Ph.D. from Auburn. More than 30 academic papers published in leading industry journals, ranging from the security architecture of
biological cells to cyber warfare. Experience in launching cybersecurity programs from the ground up, first at the University of Tampa and now at Anderson University. But for all of his accomplishments—and his role as a cybersecurity prophet—there’s one thing he didn’t see coming: just how successful the first recruiting class of the Center for Cybersecurity would be. Which brings us back to the academic pro forma Anderson University administrators created in January 2018, in the early stages of developing a comprehensive cybersecurity program.
