By Apryl Motley, CAE – Communications Consultant, MS-CC
Interested in knowing how your colleagues are staying abreast of the ever shifting cybersecurity threat landscape while continuing to build and enhance the cybersecurity programs at their institutions? One of the featured panels at the MS-CC 2025 Annual Meeting, “Cybersecurity Resources and Tools: Empowering MS-CC Campuses and Preparing Students,” will address these topics and more.
Dr. Ndidi Akuta, CISSP, chief information officer at Fort Valley State University, and Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley, director, Cybersecurity Lab/ Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) and Cyber Defense POC/NCYTE consultant at North Carolina Central University, are two of our distinguished panelists. Drs. Akuta and Cranford-Wesley bring a wealth of experience and expertise to cybersecurity. They look forward to sharing that knowledge with their peers later this month in Nashville. Here’s their take on what their peers will gain from their panel and the annual meeting overall.
More About Dr. Cranford-Wesley
- What She Likes Most About Her Job: This position allows me to combine my love for teaching with my dedication to advancing the field of cybersecurity. Working in an educational institution is rewarding as it provides a dynamic environment where I can continuously learn and collaborate with talented colleagues. I am equally excited about the opportunity to inspire and mentor the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, helping them to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to protect our cybersecurity ecosystem.
- Best Advice About CyberinfrastructureShe Ever Received: Educate and train. Ensure all employees are aware of cybersecurity best practices and understand their role in maintaining security as employees are the weakest link in any organization. I was told this many years ago at a workshop I attended but also heard it from many speakers during MS-CC meetings. It stuck with me. IT/cyber experts apply security controls to infrastructure often, but if we don’t train our employees to be “security aware,” we are not doing our due diligence to the organization.
More About Dr. Akuta
- What He Likes Most About His Job: I appreciate the ability to enhance technology at an HBCU and being able to interact with students and provide future generations knowledge and advice.
- Best Advice About Cyberinfrastructure He Ever Received (& from whom): The innovation of cyberinfrastructure [drives] the potential for the growth of research. (Leslie Jones, former MS-CC director of program development).
What prompted you to suggest a session on this topic?
Akuta: Cybersecurity is important. With other HBCUs and MSIs attending the meeting as well as their students, it is an important opportunity to share knowledge.
Cranford-Wesley: Sharing knowledge is important to inspire and motivate others, particularly those new to the field, and to get feedback as well as learn from others.
Why is your topic an important one to address?
Akuta: Cybersecurity changes daily and deserves constant dialogue to help knowledge share.
Cranford-Wesley: Al is a hot topic now, and we all are learning about all the things AI can do to assist us in various ways. But we must be curious and careful to learn about this new tool and how to integrate it into our personal and professional spaces safely.
How has attending the MS-CC Annual Meeting been beneficial or helpful to you?
Akuta: This meeting brings together administrators, researchers, professors, industry professionals, and students. Sharing knowledge alone is beneficial.
Cranford-Wesley: I have learned so much about Cyberinfrastructure capabilities from the vast number of speakers invited to the meeting. I also learned how to implement cybersecurity in various ways through discussions and presentations. I have networked and made connections at other institutions and shared knowledge. It has benefited me enormously.
Check out the program to learn more about the sessions being offered at the MS-CC Annual Meeting in Nashville, May 28-30. Even if you aren’t joining us at the meeting, we’ll be sharing materials from the sessions. See something of particular interest? Please let us know.