Marshall University Welcomes First Executive Director of Institute for Cyber Security, Dr. Henry Collier

Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia is gearing up to welcome its first executive director of the Institute for Cyber Security, Dr. Henry Collier. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Collier is set to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role when he officially starts on July 15.

In an interview with MetroNews, Collier expressed his excitement about the opportunity to inspire students to pursue careers in cyber security. He shared his vision of making Marshall’s Cyber Institute the best on the East Coast by aligning goals with faculty and staff.

Last year, state lawmakers approved funding for Marshall to build a Cyber Security Center in Huntington, which will be the second of its kind on a college campus in the U.S. The groundbreaking is expected to take place later this summer, with construction estimated to take about two years to complete.

Collier emphasized the importance of offering students a diverse range of experiences in cyber security, allowing them to explore various career paths within the industry. He also hopes to expand classified research opportunities for graduate students, providing them with the chance to work on projects with agencies within the Department of Defense.

With a military background as a U.S. Army veteran and Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the Army Reserves, Collier believes his experience will be beneficial in his new role. Prior to joining Norwich University, he held positions at River Valley Community College, where he revitalized the Cisco Networking Academy and developed cybersecurity programs.

Marshall’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Avinandan “Avi” Mukherjee, praised Collier’s qualifications and unique experience, stating that he was the most qualified candidate to lead Marshall’s excellence in cyber security.

As Collier prepares to take on this new role, students and faculty at Marshall University can look forward to exciting developments in the field of cyber security under his leadership.