Entergy Grant to Establish Cybersecurity Training Program at HBCU
With cybersecurity threats becoming more advanced and increasingly threatening America’s critical energy infrastructure, a new program at Jackson State University that is supported by Entergy will give students real-world experience and prepare them for careers in energy security.
In October, Jackson State University in Mississippi received a $2-million grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation to establish the Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab—an innovation and skills development hub that will help train the skilled cybersecurity workforce that electric companies will depend on in an increasingly digital economy.
With cybersecurity threats becoming more advanced and increasingly threatening America’s critical energy infrastructure, the new program will give students real-world experience and prepare them for careers in energy security.
“At Entergy, we believe that one of our many strengths in serving our customers is the diversity of our workforce,” Entergy Chair and CEO Drew Marsh said of his company’s work with one of the largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. “By investing in education and fostering inclusion, we are not just building a diverse workforce; we are investing in the heart of our communities where we live, work, and serve.”
Jackson State University is updating its curriculum to help prepare students for roles that are in high demand throughout the industry. The new program will focus specifically on energy security, including for the nuclear energy and natural gas sectors.
“Looking ahead, this lab will not only benefit Jackson State University and our students, it will also play a critical role in shaping the broader energy landscape,” University President Dr. Marcus Thompson said in a statement.
The grant is Entergy’s latest effort to support HBCUs throughout the company’s service territory in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. In July, Entergy announced a 10-year, $20-million commitment to support HBCUs, building on the $7.4 million that it already has invested into HBCUs since 2018. The commitment supports improvements to facilities and curriculums, internship and research opportunities, mentorship programs, and technology upgrades.
Entergy’s pledge also will support academic scholarships, facility grants and endowments, and workforce development and career readiness programs, opening pathways to employment at Entergy for high-performing HBCU students.
“As an energy industry leader, it’s important that we help develop future generations of the U.S. energy workforce by strengthening awareness and promoting the advantages of careers in our field,” Marsh said.
The $20-million initiative will include the awarding of $5,000 annual scholarships to 20 high-achieving HBCU students within Entergy’s service territory, the establishment of a competitive grant program to support research and facility improvements at HBCUs, and the support of workforce development initiatives, including the creation of 10 annual internships. Over the summer, Marsh joined EEI and the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) for the second-annual Executive Leadership Development Summit in Massachusetts.
The event was held in August during a series of multi-sector and multi-disciplinary leadership meetings on Martha’s Vineyard, part of the Underground Railroad in the late-1700s and 1800s and historically considered a popular destination for Black middle-class and upper-middle-class families. It brought together civic leaders, EEI member company executives, leaders from HBCUs, and other stakeholders to discuss the steps needed to develop Black industry leaders and to help foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce.