Erastus Karanja

Erastus Karanja serves as Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems in the School of Business at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), leveraging over 20 years of IT industry experience. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Information Science and Systems concentration) from Morgan State University and an M.S. in Computer Science from Towson University.

His educational background comprises:

• Ph.D. in Business Administration (Concentration: Information Science and Systems), Morgan State University
• M.S. in Computer Science, Towson University

Dr. Karanja's research program bridges cybersecurity governance, project management methodologies, and curriculum innovation. His work critically examines C-suite security leadership roles while developing pedagogical frameworks that align project management education with Bloom's taxonomy and industry competency requirements. Recent publications demonstrate sophisticated application of content analysis to organizational IT structures and educational practices.

Analysis of his 12 scholarly publications (2013-2024) reveals an evolving research trajectory: early work focused on African American degree attainment and MIS methodology, transitioning to cybersecurity leadership roles (2017), then expanding into project management curriculum development and institutional cybersecurity accreditation. His current research integrates GenCyber grant initiatives with practical applications in network defense and risk management education.

Dr. Karanja has secured significant external funding including a $300,000 grant establishing NCCU's cybersecurity lab and currently serves as co-Principal Investigator on a $149,800 Department of Defense/National Security Agency GenCyber grant. These initiatives directly support his teaching in courses spanning Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Ethical Hacking, and IT Project Management.

He spearheaded the team that established NCCU's Bachelor of Science in IT program and achieved the School of Business' designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security. His cybersecurity lab serves as the operational hub for both the new degree program and the institutional CAE certification.