Southern Utah University announced on May 12 that Dr. Shalini Kesar has been named one of the “Female Cybersecurity Leaders to Watch in Utah” by the CISO Whisperer and has also been recognized as a repeat honoree of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Utah for 2026 by Women We Admire.
Kesar serves as a professor of cybersecurity and directs the Master’s in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance program at Southern Utah University. She is also co-founder and president of the Women in Cybersecurity Utah chapter, which aims to provide leadership opportunities for those interested in pursuing careers in cybersecurity.
Dr. William Heyborne, dean of SUU’s Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (College of STEM), said, “Dr. Kesar’s innovative approach to the CSIA curriculum and delivery has been critical to the success of this program. Her connections with industry partners have allowed us to bring the latest and greatest from industry into the program.”
For more than 17 years, Kesar has led outreach programs targeting high school students in rural areas across Utah to encourage interest in information technology and cybersecurity education. The CISO Whisperer credited her for creating connections within cybersecurity education and rural outreach efforts.
Heyborne added, “Dr. Kesar’s contributions to the WMG College of STEM are innumerable. As a senior faculty member, she has long been a contributor to the education of our students. But, in addition to her work in the classroom and her careful mentoring of students, she oversees every aspect of the CSIA program. Additionally, her Outreach MAD project and supervision of an Aspirations in Computing chapter extend her reach far beyond SUU and into K-12 classrooms throughout the state.”
The Master’s program at Southern Utah University offers multiple emphases for students interested in gaining real-world experience with tools used against cybercrime through online coursework taught by experienced professors.
