The University of Texas at Dallas has been redesignated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity for cyber research for its innovative and impactful research contributions and its educational programs that train new generations of cybersecurity professionals. Distinguished Professor of computer science in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. In 2004 UTD established the Cyber Security Research Center (which later evolved into the Cyber Security Research and Education Institute), founded by Dr. Bhavani Thuraisingham, professor of computer science and Founders Chair in Engineering and Computer Science. On the research front, faculty and students have expanded into new specialties including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity and cybersecurity in space. “Like a lot of people who go into computer science, students in my classes often are fascinated with things like video games,” Hamlen said.