Why Cybersecurity in Academia Requires Mission-Driven Leadership

In this episode…

Shane Wilson shares what makes the IT landscape in academia so distinct—and so difficult. At Centre College, 1,400 students bring over 3,500 personal devices onto the campus network. While most businesses can control their endpoints, higher education must prioritize openness and access. Shane explains how technologies like AI-based endpoint detection and response (EDR) and anomaly detection allow institutions to preserve academic freedom while maintaining data integrity.

Shane also walks us through a rare and prestigious experience: hosting the Vice Presidential Debates in both 2000 and 2012. From coordinating with Secret Service to enabling IT infrastructure for over 3,500 journalists and representatives from 18 countries, Shane describes how the college pulled off a national broadcast with limited resources and an incredible team. These leadership challenges not only enhanced his confidence but also paved the way for his current CIO role.

Beyond the event, Shane speaks passionately about the importance of aligning IT with institutional mission. He emphasizes that Centre College isn’t a cybersecurity firm or a data hosting center—it’s a school, and IT should serve that mission. His advice for those entering the field is pragmatic and empathetic: start anywhere you can, build professional empathy, and never stop learning.