NICE Conference Welcomes Captain Neferteri Strickland to 2026 Planning Committee

Captain Neferteri Strickland of EntreEd has been appointed to the NICE Conference Planning Committee for the 2026 NICE Conference & Expo. Strickland also serves as Region 1: Northeast Regional Leader for the Cybersecurity Career Ambassador Program, CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT. In her committee role, Strickland will contribute regional insights on education-to-career pathways, credentialing, and inclusive workforce development strategies.

The 2026 NICE Conference & Expo will be held June 1–3, 2026, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event is hosted by Florida International University and New America, with support from NICE, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce.

With growing demand for talent, the 2026 NICE Conference & Expo will highlight strategies to expand access, strengthen pathways, and connect credentials to careers. The official theme will be announced in the coming weeks.

“NIST reports there are more than 514,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S., with about 74 workers available to fill every 100 jobs. That gap is a call to action,” said Captain Neferteri Strickland. “As a newly funded Regional Alliance and Multistakeholder Partnership community, the Greater Philadelphia region is committed to mobilizing schools, employers, workforce boards, and veteran-serving organizations to turn learning into earning using the NICE Framework. Hosting the 2026 NICE Conference in Philadelphia gives us a unique opportunity to showcase local leadership while helping shape national solutions to close the talent gap.”

The NICE Conference & Expo provides a unique platform to share best practices, research, and innovations from across sectors. The event will open with a half-day of targeted workshops followed by two full days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.

Call for Proposals

Conference organizers are now accepting proposals for presentations, workshops, and panels aligned with the 2026 theme. Educators, workforce developers, employers, and community organizations are encouraged to submit proposals that:

• Expand and clarify pathways into cybersecurity careers

• Connect classroom learning, credentials, and employer needs

• Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in cyber education

• Use the NICE Framework to guide instruction and career development

For submission guidelines and deadlines, visit: https://niceconference.org.

Who Should Attend?

• Employers and hiring managers who need to recruit, hire, develop, and retain a skilled cybersecurity workforce

• Educators from K–12 schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges, and universities

• Advisors to students, job seekers, and employees seeking careers in cybersecurity

• Students and aspiring professionals desiring to enter the cyber workforce

• Providers of training content and learning environments

• Suppliers of industry-recognized certifications in cybersecurity

• Managers of workforce development programs

• Organizers of community economic development initiatives

• Developers of innovative products and services that enable building a skilled workforce

• Policymakers from local, state, federal, and international government
  

2026 NICE Conference Planning Committee (Selected Members)

Academia

• Dr. Michelle Angelo-Rocha, University of South Florida

• Dr. Kristine Christensen, Moraine Valley Community College

• Nick Falcone, University of Pennsylvania

• Dr. Aunshul Rege, Temple University

• Dr. Selvan Snow, Assumption University
  

Government

• Daniel Eliot, NIST, U.S. Department of Commerce

• Daniel Massey, National Science Foundation

• Jared Neitzel, U.S. Department of State

• Amanda Theel, Argonne National Laboratory
  

Industry

• Hila Hanif, Amazon Web Services

• Brian Hansen, Mastercard

• Franz Payer, Cyber Skyline

• Tina Romeo, Microsoft Security

• Bradley Wolfenden, Katzcy | PlayCyber
  

Non-Profit

• Matthew Nagamine, Consortium for Cybersecurity Clinics

• Betsy Sohren Jones, West Monroe

• Neferteri Strickland, EntreEd

• Meredith Ward, National Association of State Chief Information Officers

About NICE

NICE, led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a partnership between government, academia, and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. The mission of NICE is to energize and promote a robust network and ecosystem of cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. NICE fulfills this mission by coordinating with government, academic, and industry partners to build on existing successful programs, facilitate change and innovation, and bring leadership and vision to increase the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals helping to keep our nation secure.

About EntreEd

The National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education (EntreEd) serves as the compass and campfire for the national entrepreneurship education ecosystem. With an emphasis on preparing students for the modern workforce, including high-demand fields such as cybersecurity and technology, EntreEd equips learners with the skills needed to navigate emerging career pathways, launch ventures, and strengthen local and national economies. By cultivating entrepreneurial thinking as a lifelong process, EntreEd helps build resilient communities and a future-ready workforce.

Media Contact: Megan Westbrook – [email protected]