Baltimore County, MD (October 24, 2025) – Community College of Baltimore County is proud to open its new Center for AI and Cyber Innovation with a ribbon-cutting and luncheon on Oct. 29, featuring Maryland Secretary of Commerce Harry Coker Jr. The ribbon-cutting, hosted by CCBC President Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, takes place Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. in the Health Careers and Technology Building, Suite 101, at CCBC Catonsville. The luncheon, also featuring Secretary Coker, will include a panel of cybersecurity experts moderated by Dr. Richard Scheper, founder, president and CEO of Jovian Concepts Inc., and chair of CCBC’s Board of Trustees.
The CCBC Center for AI and Cyber Innovation brings together CCBC’s high-technology programs in one place. It features an AI Lab, including robotics platforms, an interactive humanoid robot, and other technologies, allowing students to explore applications of machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing in real-world scenarios. The robotics and other tools available in the AI Lab provide students with hands-on opportunities to understand how AI-driven systems perceive their environment and make decisions. Engaging with these technologies gives learners experience in both technical and ethical considerations of deploying intelligent systems.
The Center also houses the Cyber Workforce Accelerator (CWA) Program developed by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges and BCR Cyber. As a hands-on learning platform, the Cyber Range is a cybersecurity simulation and training environment that enables security teams to train in realistic settings. The Cyber Range enriches CCBC cybersecurity courses and academic programs by providing students with experience in network defense, threat detection and incident response in a controlled environment.
The CWA Workforce Development Program allows students to complete BCR Cyber’s Security Operations Center (SOC) Operations Analyst I training and certification at virtually no cost. This innovative opportunity gives students access to training that can fast-track job seekers into cybersecurity roles.
CCBC launched its Associate of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence in Fall 2025. The program introduces students to the foundational principles of artificial intelligence. Designed primarily as a transfer program, the AI degree aligns with newly established Bachelor of Science programs in Artificial Intelligence at both the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and the University of Baltimore (UB). As partner institutions in CCBC’s Degrees to Succeed initiative, UMGC and UB offer dual admission opportunities to eligible students, creating a seamless transfer experience.
In addition to transfer pathways, the curriculum supports entry into several other technology-related bachelor’s degree programs throughout Maryland. Graduates of the AI program will be prepared for careers in software development, systems analysis, data science, computer research and information technology.
According to labor market data reported by Lightcast, entry-level positions in the AI field are projected to grow by 11.6% in the Baltimore-Washington region by 2030, with a current median regional salary of $136,000. While many positions require a bachelor’s degree, CCBC’s associate program allows students to begin working in the field while pursuing further education.
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, over 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2024 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.