Using the lived experiences of study participants, the purpose of the exploratory qualitative study was to explore collegiate cybersecurity instructors' qualities needed to maximize the engagement of Generation Z cybersecurity learners to successfully become cybersecurity specialists. This understanding is important in order to increase the likelihood of Generation Z cybersecurity learners completing collegiate-level cybersecurity programs and filling the critical shortage in the cybersecurity workforce. Schwieger and Ladwig (2018) call for a better understanding of Gen Z perspectives to aid this generation's future success, and thus the problem addressed in the study is that collegiate cybersecurity instructors' qualities needed to maximize engagement of Generation Z cybersecurity learners to successfully become cybersecurity specialists have not been identified. The study explored the perceptions students had regarding the desired qualities of their cybersecurity instructors. The sample selected for this exploratory qualitative research study consisted of 10 individuals and used purposeful and snowball sampling to select study participants. Data collection was accomplished through a semi-structured interview strategy. Instructor Qualities was the first category to emerge and contained the major themes of (a) relational, (b) engaging, and (c) personable. Coursework and Learning Experiences was the second category and contained the themes of (d) real and (e) relevant. These findings can impact practice by understanding that the participants felt more engaged through touchpoints, exposure to the real, non-theoretical side of cybersecurity, understanding how their learning applied to real life, and being exposed to practitioners. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]