May 13, 2026
St. John’s University has been awarded a $250,000 endowed gift to establish a community-based cybersecurity clinic within The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies’ Cyber Security Center of Academic Excellence.
The gift comes from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the charitable organization established by Craig Newmark, founder of the online marketplace craigslist. The endowment’s annual payout of about $12,000 will support the creation of a Queens, NY-based clinic that will provide area small businesses, health-care providers, and nonprofits with cybersecurity services that include incident-response planning, security awareness training, and vulnerability assessments.
The gift also provides for-credit experiential learning opportunities for third- and fourth-year students in the University’s undergraduate Cyber Security Systems degree program, who will assist needy area businesses vulnerable to cyber threats.
“This grant represents a powerful convergence of academic excellence, public service, and real-world impact,” said Luca Iandoli, Ph.D., Dean, the Collins College of Professional Studies (CCPS) and Professor, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science. “Through the support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, our students will engage directly with the cybersecurity challenges that define today’s digital landscape—gaining hands-on technical proficiency and a deep sense of civic responsibility.”
Newmark launched craigslist in 1996 and continued to operate the site as a hobby until 1998. He ran the site until 2000, and served as a customer service representative for years after. In 2005, he was named one of “100 people shaping the world” by Time magazine.
Newmark founded Craig Newmark Philanthropies in 2015 to support causes as wide-ranging as trustworthy journalism, cybersecurity, women in technology, and support for veterans’ and military families. It has since committed more than $100 million to help protect Americans from cyber threats.
“Clinics like this do really important work helping organizations and communities who need to protect themselves against the very serious threats that are already here,” Newmark said. “Providing a training ground for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is a big deal as AI dramatically expands the quantity and quality of the threats and scams we all face online.”
Joan E. DeBello, Ed.D., Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Chair, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science at CCPS, said the grant will enable St. John’s students to perform essential, mission-focused work in a professional environment, gaining experience while contributing to community development.
To identify community partners, the University will engage with a series of Queens-based stakeholders, including health-care leaders; schools; small-business networks; and policymakers through direct meetings, newsletters, and social media content. Rollout could begin as early as the Fall 2026 semester, according to Dr. DeBello.
“Clinic programs like this are where the next generation of cybersecurity professionals learn by doing—protecting real people while mastering real threats,” Dr. DeBello said. “This support enables us to expand the mission, turning education into impact and strengthening the resilience of the communities we serve. This is a great opportunity for our students and our programs.”
St. John’s undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity programs have been ranked among the nation’s best by the National Security Agency and the US Department of Homeland Security. In 2024, the Master of Science degree program in Cyber and Information Security received Program of Study validation from the National Security Agency, recognizing it among the industry’s most highly regarded advanced-degree programs.
In 2021, Spiceworks, a professional network for the information technology industry, ranked St. John’s among the top 10 of all cybersecurity colleges in the United States.