Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley is the Director of Cybersecurity Programs at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and the Point of Contact for the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, where she oversees NCCU’s innovative cybersecurity lab. She also serves as a Consultant for the National Cybersecurity Education Center and is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Information Systems Department within the School of Business.
Dr. Cranford-Wesley was recognized by the CAE Community for her cybersecurity outreach in 2022 and named Innovator of the Year by E-Council in 2020. A seasoned cybersecurity professional, she has appeared on WRAL, Fox8, and Time Warner News discussing innovations, cyberattacks, and ransomware. She brings extensive experience in curriculum design, grant writing, and program evaluation and is a published author. Dr. Cranford-Wesley holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and industry certifications including IC3, Security+, CCNP, CCNA, and CCAI.