Spelman College in Atlanta Opens Cybersecurity Clinic Funded by $1 Million Google.org Grant
Spelman College in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, announced on October 27, 2026, that its Computer and Information Sciences Department recently hosted the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Spelman Cybersecurity Clinic, also known as SPEAR (Security Plan, Education, Assessment, and Remediation). The clinic will provide cybersecurity services to community organizations including small businesses, nonprofits, and cities and towns, while giving students real-world cybersecurity experience. The clinic was developed through a $1 million grant from Google.org.
Spelman said the idea for the clinic grew from a collaboration between Raquel Hill, professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, and Kerry Hixon, the college's director of cybersecurity and I.T. compliance. The $1 million grant is part of a $25 million collaboration between Google.org and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, an international network of university-based cybersecurity clinics and allies working to advance cybersecurity education for the public good. 'This clinic directly embodies Spelman's core mission and strategic vision. Through SPEAR, Spelman is not merely participating in the tech landscape; we are actively shaping and securing it,' College President Ayanna Howard said at the opening.
Citing the World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report, the college said cyber insecurity remains one of the top 10 global risks over the next two and 10 years, and that there are currently nearly 515,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the United States, including over 17,000 in Georgia. Dr. Hill said computers and their applications touch banking, retail, water systems, transportation, agriculture and power production, and that Spelman is preparing the next generation of cybersecurity experts. The clinic launched as part of the college's annual Geek Week; Spelman is one of 49 such clinics in the United States and one of 15 new clinics recently launched at higher education institutions.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Spelman 学院网络安全诊所揭幕现场，校长 Ayanna Howard 与 SPEAR 学生交谈。Spelman 学院官方发布，经 spelman.edu。 / At the Spelman Cybersecurity Clinic opening, President Ayanna Howard talks with SPEAR students. Photo released by Spelman College, via spelman.edu.
