Tech entrepreneur gifts $2M to Pasco university cybersecurity program

Tampa Bay technology entrepreneur and philanthropist Arnie Bellini has committed $2 million to Saint Leo University in Pasco County to help launch an executive-level cybersecurity graduate program aimed at training leaders to protect businesses, government agencies and critical infrastructure from growing cybersecurity threats.

The gift from Bellini and his wife, Lauren, will fund the development and long-term growth of the university's Master of Science in Cybersecurity Executive Track, an accelerated graduate program scheduled to welcome its first class in January 2027.

University officials say the program is designed for professionals who will oversee cybersecurity strategy rather than focus solely on technical skills. Students will receive instruction in executive leadership, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and business strategy, with coursework intended for careers in industries including healthcare, defense, government and critical infrastructure.

"Our nation needs to defend its digital borders with the same commitment that we defend our physical borders," Bellini says in a release. "That starts by educating leaders who understand cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the responsibility that comes with protecting our economy and critical infrastructure."

The program will be housed within Saint Leo University's recently created Tapia College of Business and Technology, which combines the university's business and technology disciplines under one academic unit.

According to the university, the Bellinis' contribution includes $1.6 million in direct financial support and about $400,000 in technological resources. 

The donation builds on the Bellinis' existing support for the university. The Bellini Family Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to Saint Leo students pursuing degrees in cybersecurity and related fields.

Bellini founded the Tampa software company ConnectWise and now serves as chairman of ConnectSecure. He has become one of the region's most prominent advocates for expanding Florida's cybersecurity industry and has promoted the Tampa Bay area's emergence as "CyberBay," a national center for cybersecurity innovation through partnerships among business, government, academia and the military.

The new executive track also builds on Saint Leo's existing cybersecurity credentials. The university has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, a recognition awarded to institutions that meet federal standards for cybersecurity education.