Now in its 15th year, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) internship program has given more than 100 students hands-on training and real experience in advanced networking, developed in partnership with Cypress College’s Professor Ben Izadi, who was instrumental in its success.
Interns gain direct experience in CENIC's Network Operations Center (NOC), supporting the California Research and Education Network (CalREN) and the broader services in CENIC's network catalog. CalREN is one of the world’s most advanced research and education networks. It comprises an 8,000-mile backbone and hub sites, plus thousands of CENIC-managed circuits totaling over 54,000 network miles, serving more than 20 million people across California.
Few student internships offer access to a network and service catalog this large and sophisticated, with security-focused electives available. Internships are paid and part-time, so students can support themselves while studying, helping interns stand out in a competitive job market after graduation.
While Cypress College’s proximity to CENIC in La Mirada has enabled it to play a large role in the internship program, the program accepts students from any accredited university or college, providing broad access to solid career opportunities.
Graduates have moved on to companies such as Google and Disney, and 17 former interns have continued their careers at CENIC as full-time employees. While half of these were hired into network operations and engineering positions, others joined departments such as program management, software development, systems administration, facilities, accounting, and CENIC’s information security office (ISO).
“My time as a CENIC intern was one of the most valuable experiences of my career. Through the recommendation of Dr. Ben Izadi, I had the opportunity to work with both the NOC and ISO teams, where I applied networking concepts from the classroom to real-world network operations,” said Valantina Ishaq, a graduate of the program and network administrator at CENIC.
Ishaq added, “I am especially grateful to Dr. Izadi for his guidance, mentorship, and encouragement throughout my journey. His passion for education and genuine commitment to his students’ success inspired me to pursue opportunities that I may not have otherwise considered. His influence has had a lasting impact on both my career and my professional development.”
The success of the internship program owes a great deal to Dr. Izadi’s involvement, and this partnership indicates his drive to set students up to thrive. Since Dr. Izadi joined Cypress College in 2002, he has boosted students’ access to professional development, granting them opportunities to succeed professionally.
For the CENIC internship program, Dr. Izadi was a key partner in developing the curriculum, providing applicants, and giving feedback. In addition, he established the Cisco Local Academy at Cypress College, a set of courses to prepare students for Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco CyberOps Associate industry certifications.
Dr. Izadi was also involved in installing the Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense certificate program and Cyber Defense AS degree in the CIS Department. He was also the Point of Contact (PoC) for the college’s Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). His career recently culminated in his retirement from college after a long career of guiding students’ success across California.
On May 27, 2026, CENIC hosted a meeting with Dr. Izadi and Cypress College leaders to celebrate his retirement, recognize his contributions to the CENIC internship program, and demonstrate his deep commitment to his students' professional growth. Given how much CENIC has also benefited from the partnership, the program stands as one of Izadi’s lasting legacies.
“The greatest impact of the CENIC partnership is that it gives our cybersecurity community a destination,” said Dr. Ben Izadi. “Students can see a pathway from youth programs and classroom learning to a professional internship, which motivates them to stay engaged, earn certifications, mentor others, and ultimately prepare for careers in the field.”
Dr. Izadi has created a robust foundation for his students’ success long after his retirement; the partnership will continue to thrive even after his absence.
"Stepping into a program with a real legacy behind it is not a task taken lightly,” said Michael Franklin, who will be replacing Dr. Izadi after his retirement. “Ben has created something people strive for, but more importantly, believe in, and that is not an easy feat. For me, this is both a privilege and a responsibility to not only nurture the partnership between CENIC and Cypress but to continue exploring new horizons at the behest of our students.”
This partnership reflects CENIC's core mission. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit created by and for its members, CENIC exists to support California’s research and education community — not just through high-speed infrastructure, but through the people who build and sustain it.
Alongside Dr. Izadi and other valued partners, CENIC is helping develop an innovation-focused workforce that will keep California at the forefront of global innovation. The organization looks forward to growing the program further and building new partnerships with members.
For more information on CENIC’s internship program, including how your institution can participate, please contact your segment’s representative in the CENIC Program Management Office.