Deanne Cranford-Wesley

Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley serves as a Professor in the Computer Information Systems department within the School of Business at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), directing the cybersecurity lab and acting as point of contact for the Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense while mentoring students and managing cybersecurity outreach initiatives.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Education Leadership from Union Institute and University (2008)

Her research spans cybersecurity defense mechanisms with specialized focus on ethical hacking, risk management frameworks, and digital forensics methodologies, integrated with network security fundamentals through curriculum design and program evaluation expertise. She bridges technical cybersecurity domains with educational innovation, particularly in workforce development pathways.

Publication trends reveal sustained engagement from 2008-2016 in cybersecurity education, highlighting social engineering vulnerabilities, competition-based learning assessments, IoT career opportunities for women, and networking academy evaluations—demonstrating consistent focus on practical cybersecurity training and inclusive workforce expansion.

Award recognition includes:

• CAE Community Honor for Outreach Efforts in Cybersecurity (2022)
• Innovator of the Year by E-Council (2020)

As an advisor, she guides cybersecurity students while leveraging grant-writing proficiency to secure funding for outreach programs and curriculum development; her Cisco Networking Academy evaluation exemplifies impactful grant-supported initiatives targeting K-12 pipeline development.

She leads NCCU's cybersecurity lab operations and CAE coordination, establishing collaborative environments for hands-on defense training and community engagement through media appearances on WRAL, FOX8, and Time Warner News discussing ransomware and cyber innovations.