ReliaQuest Invests $1.5 Million to Expand AI and Cybersecurity Education at USF
ReliaQuest Invests $1.5 Million to Expand AI and Cybersecurity Education at USF
Publish Date: 2026-06-25 10:19:00
Source Domain: www.citybiz.co
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ReliaQuest has committed $1.5 million to the University of South Florida to expand artificial intelligence and cybersecurity education, strengthening a longstanding partnership aimed at developing talent for one of the technology sector’s fastest-growing fields. The investment will fund the College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing‘s first endowed professorship while broadening the university’s experiential learning programs to prepare students for careers in AI-driven cybersecurity.
The gift establishes the ReliaQuest AI and Cybersecurity Professorship, an endowed faculty position designed to attract and retain researchers specializing in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The investment also creates a new artificial intelligence-supported software engineering track within the ReliaQuest Labs program, expanding the company’s role in developing workforce-ready graduates equipped to address evolving cybersecurity challenges.
The announcement reflects growing industry demand for professionals who can navigate the intersection of AI and cybersecurity as organizations increasingly deploy artificial intelligence while defending against more sophisticated cyber threats. By supporting both faculty research and applied learning opportunities, the investment is intended to strengthen the university’s research capabilities while building a larger pipeline of graduates with experience in emerging AI technologies.
“Cybersecurity is the greatest technical challenge of our generation, and with AI reshaping the threat landscape, it’s only getting more complex. That just creates even more opportunity for talented individuals to enter this industry,” said Brian Murphy, founder and chief executive officer of ReliaQuest. “Our partnership with USF has always been about making sure students graduate ready to seize that opportunity, and this investment helps do that on a broader scale.”
A significant portion of the funding will expand ReliaQuest Labs, the hands-on learning program established in 2018 to complement classroom instruction with practical industry experience. Since its launch, more than 300 University of South Florida students have completed the program, with most accepting positions at ReliaQuest or other cybersecurity employers after graduation.
The new AI-enabled software engineering track adds to the program’s existing cybersecurity operations curriculum and will focus on software development, prompt engineering and other emerging disciplines supporting AI-powered security platforms. The expansion aligns academic training with changing workforce needs as enterprises increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into software development and cybersecurity operations.
Sudeep Sarkar, launch dean and professor of the College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, said the investment enhances both research and experiential education.
“ReliaQuest’s support enables USF to expand cutting-edge research and education in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity by attracting exceptional faculty members,” Sarkar said. “The ReliaQuest Labs provide a powerful experiential learning environment, one of the core pillars of our academic mission, where students engage directly with real-world challenges and translate research and innovation into impact.”
University leaders said the investment strengthens a partnership that has become an important component of the institution’s efforts to prepare graduates for careers in advanced technology fields while supporting faculty recruitment in high-demand research areas.
“This transformative gift enhances USF’s hands-on learning opportunities for students while supporting USF’s efforts to attract and retain world-class faculty in critical and rapidly evolving fields,” said USF President Moez Limayem. “I am grateful that we have been able to strengthen an already amazing partnership with one of the most forward-looking companies in our nation.”
For ReliaQuest, the investment reinforces its strategy of supporting workforce development in cybersecurity as demand for AI-enabled security expertise continues to accelerate. Founded in 2007, the company develops enterprise cybersecurity technology through its GreyMatter platform, which uses agentic AI to help organizations detect threats, automate investigations and coordinate security responses across complex technology environments.
The University of South Florida serves approximately 50,000 students across campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, as well as USF Health. A member of the Association of American Universities, the institution reported a record $750 million in research funding in 2025 and continues to expand investments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other advanced technology disciplines as part of its broader research and economic development strategy.
