cyber fellows Archives

cyber fellows

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – David W. White

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with David W. White, President and Co-founder of Axio, where he champions the advancement of cyber risk quantification and resilience across critical infrastructure sectors. He leads Axio’s work with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Cyber Risk Institute and contributes to policy initiatives shaping the future of cyber oversight. A frequent speaker and educator, David teaches in the Navigator program at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and regularly briefs boards, executive teams and government leaders. He co-developed Axio’s impact-centric risk quantification methodology and previously led the development of national frameworks such as C2M2, CERT-RMM, and the Smart Grid Maturity Model. A first-generation college student, David credits early mentors for shaping his path into engineering and resilience leadership. His work is guided by a commitment to fairness, security, and protecting the systems and communities that matter most.

Topic: Entrepreneurial Endurance: A Passionate Pursuit of Change

What does it take to turn an idea into lasting impact — especially in a field as complex and consequential as cybersecurity? In this interactive session, David W. White, President and Co-founder of Axio, shares the lessons learned from three decades of building at the intersection of technology, risk, and resilience. From early work in robotics and nuclear cleanup to shaping national frameworks for cyber resilience and launching new ventures, his story is one of endurance — the patient, passionate pursuit of change.

Blending personal narrative, entrepreneurial insight and reflections on purpose, White invites participants to explore what he calls “high agency”: the ability to act with clarity and conviction amid uncertainty. Through discussion and reflection, attendees will examine how love for one’s work, disciplined frameworks for risk and collaboration across disciplines can shape both individual careers and societal resilience.

The session challenges students to consider their own “gift to life” — the unique contribution they can make through their research, leadership, or entrepreneurial pursuits — and how to pursue it with no reserve, no retreat, and no regrets.

The Cyber Fellows Speaker Series is open to Cyber Fellows, related faculty, and our external partners. It is an opportunity for Cyber Fellows to have deep conversations with cyber industry professionals, venture capitalists, founders, and entrepreneurs. For more information, email randy-roberts@utulsa.edu.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Dr. Christopher A. Shrock

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Dr. Christopher A. Shrock, an associate in GableGotwals’ intellectual property group, focusing on patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. His practice encompasses state and federal IP litigation, IP licensing and related transactions and prosecution before the Patent & Trademark Office. As an electrical engineer, Chris’ technical insights have benefitted clients from start-ups to multi-national and global organizations, especially in the energy storage, software, oil and gas and manufacturing industries. He has also conducted copyright analyses for clients in Oklahoma’s burgeoning film industry.

Chris is licensed to practice law in Oklahoma and before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Before going into law, Chris served as Dean of Arts & Sciences at Ohio Valley University in West Virginia and as Dean of Student Life at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. He has taught history, religion, philosophy and physics. Chris has published extensively on Scottish philosophy, especially on Thomas Reid, whose philosophy of science was influential in early American jurisprudence.

Chris received his B.S. in electrical engineering from the The University of Tulsa, where he graduated cum laude with minors in economics and philosophy, completed the Honors Program, and conducted research in optics. He went on to receive a master’s degree in theology from the Harding School of Theology and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Baylor University before returning to The University of Tulsa for his J.D. While at UTulsa, Chris served as the notes editor of the Energy Law Journal, he worked in the university’s technology transfer office and his team placed third in the graduate division of the Love’s Cup business pitch competition.

Active in the Tulsa community, Chris often volunteers with the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Tulsa Engineering Foundation, Scouting America (Troops 26 and 126) and the Park Church of Christ.

“Invent, Protect, Commercialize, Repeat” follows an engineer’s journey through the twists and turns of intellectual property law, tackling real questions like who owns an invention, how to choose between trade secrets and patents and what it takes to protect your ideas. Explore the nuts and bolts of invention disclosure, patentability, prior art searches and the drama of examiner rejections—all illustrated with fun, memorable examples like the “Futuristic Potato” and the “Cat Taunting Device.” It’s a practical, content-rich introduction to making your inventions count!

The Cyber Fellows Speaker Series is open to Cyber Fellows, related faculty and our external partners. It is an opportunity for Cyber Fellows to have deep conversations with cyber industry professionals, venture capitalists, founders and entrepreneurs. For more information, email randy-roberts@utulsa.edu.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Chris Wright, Ph.D.

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Chris Wright, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at The University of Tulsa. Chris is passionate about helping UTulsa and the Tulsa region become leaders in entrepreneurship and venture development by providing founders better access to education, resources and capital. He is a co-founder and investor in multiple Tulsa-based tech companies, including Reliant and Medefy Health.

Chris enjoys working within the Tulsa community on various non-profit and service boards and currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Board for Street School. He has served as President of the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association (TAHRA) and Chair of the OKHR State Conference. He is also actively involved in the entrepreneurial community in Tulsa where he served as the Advisory Board Chair for The Forge incubator, was named a Techstars All-Star mentor and is a venture advisor for 46VC and Hurricane Ventures.

He is an Applied Assistant Professor in the Collins College of Business (CCB) at The University of Tulsa, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, human resource management, and I/O psychology.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Joe Crivelli

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Joe Crivelli, Vice President, Investor Relations at Vertex, Inc. a leading global provider of tax automation solutions. With over 25 years of experience in investor relations, Joe has held key roles at prominent companies, including BOK Financial, Rackspace Technologies and Synchronoss Technologies. He also spent a decade as an investor relations consultant with Gregory FCA, one of the nation’s top PR and communications firms.

In the 2024 Extel Research All-America Executive Team survey of investment professionals, Joe was recognized as the leading Investor Relations professional in the midcap software industry.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education from Villanova University and an MBA in Finance from Drexel University.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Justin Kits

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Justin Kits, Assistant Vice President for Economic Development at The University of Tulsa. In this role, he oversees UTulsa’s technology commercialization efforts and forges collaborative partnerships with industry and community organizations. Before joining UTulsa, Justin was Director of Public Affairs for Tulsa Innovation Labs, where he led Tulsa’s Tech Hub application, resulting in a $51 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Previously, he spent over seven years as a strategy consultant in Deloitte’s Government and Public Sector Practice. Originally from Tulsa, he holds a a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from The George Washington University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

Justin will be discussing commercialization efforts at UTulsa.

This event is part of the Cyber Fellows Speaker Series, which provides opportunities for Cyber Fellows, affiliated faculty, and external partners to engage in meaningful conversations with leaders in cybersecurity, venture capital, and tech entrepreneurship.

Open to:

UTulsa Cyber Fellows
Graduate students interested in technology commercialization
Faculty and external partners

Location: Cyber Range – Zink Hall, Room 219

Questions? Contact Randy Roberts at randy-roberts@utulsa.edu

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Michael Meason

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Michael Meason, VP, Information & Security at Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.

Michael Meason is the VP, Information & Security at Western Farmers Electric Cooperative with responsibility for IT, OT, Network/Telecom, and Cyber Security. He has 10 years of experience in Enterprise IT within the Financial Services sector and 16 years of experience in the Power Generation and Transmission Utility sector. He has a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Cameron University, a M.S. in Telecommunications Management from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma.

Michael will lead a roundtable discussion-oriented event to address relevant cybersecurity issues.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Preston Smith

UTulsa Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Preston Smith, Security Control Assessor with the Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute at The University of Tulsa.

Preston Smith is a dedicated computer scientist and cybersecurity specialist with a passion for helping others understand the critical roles that privacy and security play in our daily lives. With over 20 years of experience in IT and security, he has built a career rooted in technical expertise and a commitment to protecting sensitive information. Preston holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas.

His journey in technology began in high school, where he first engaged with computers and later implemented barcode systems at a mercantile store. This hands-on experience led him to a corporate IT role, where he engineered and supported enterprise systems. Finding a strong affinity for system administration, Preston embraced the challenges of keeping systems stable and secure. Even as he pursued his degree, he remained drawn to system administration, recognizing that root-level administration was foundational to securing IT environments.

Preston’s expertise in privacy and security expanded further when he took on a role at a research facility, ensuring digital security measures aligned with HIPAA privacy regulations. His work was not just about compliance—it was about instilling trust in data protection processes, ensuring that individuals’ information was handled securely and ethically.

His career took a pivotal turn when he joined the Defense Industrial Base as a Security Manager. Leveraging his background in government regulations, Preston was tasked with implementing the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and navigating security controls such as NIST 800-53 and DFARS 800-171. His role in protecting critical infrastructure and national security assets became a source of pride, reinforcing his belief in the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the country’s warfighters.

With a passion for continuous learning, Preston remains committed to advancing his expertise, engaging with industry organizations and sharing knowledge on privacy and security. His mission is to help others understand and appreciate the importance of cybersecurity—ensuring that businesses, individuals and institutions can navigate the digital landscape with confidence and resilience.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – David Roman

TU Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with David Roman, senior incident response consultant at Cisco Talos Incident Response.

David Roman is a senior incident response consultant at Cisco Talos Incident Response, with 29 years of experience in the IT and security industry. David leads investigations to help customers on their worst career day recover from security incidents and help them better prepare for the future. Volunteering and helping others learn about cybersecurity is a passion for David. He helps run local DEF CON and CitySec groups and guest lectures at Oklahoma State University.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Nathan Sweaney

TU Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Nathan Sweaney, Cyber Practitioner, Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute (OCII).

Nathan Sweaney has served the IT and cybersecurity industries for over 25 years. He spent 11 years building a cybersecurity consulting start-up, helping thousands of customers from small businesses to Fortune 2. He has also served as a vCISO, CTO, and CSO. He’s a passionate advocate for the Oklahoma cybersecurity community, participating in many area organizations across the state. He excels at translating technical nuance into business-speak and currently works with OCII to solve tough challenges in the cyber world. He has spoken at dozens of cybersecurity conferences in several countries, including DEF CON, ASIS International, the PCI Security Council, and many others. Nathan also serves on several non-profit boards, including Campos de Sueños, a scholarship, vocational training, and feeding program for children in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala.

The Cyber Fellows Speaker Series is open to Cyber Fellows, related faculty, and our external partners. The speaker series allows Cyber Fellows to have deep conversations with cyber industry professionals, venture capitalists, founders, and entrepreneurs. For more information, email randy-roberts@utulsa.edu.

Cyber Fellows Speaker Series – Andreas Polycarpou, Ph.D.

TU Cyber Fellows are invited to engage with Andreas A. Polycarpou, Ph.D., Inaugural Dean of Engineering and Endowed Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Tulsa.

Andreas Polycarpou received his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1994. Before joining The University of Tulsa in 2023, he was at Texas A&M University from 2012 to 2023 holding the James Cain Chair and serving as department head of mechanical engineering and acting dean of dentistry. From 1999 to 2012, he was the Wilkins Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Polycarpou’s research interests include tribology, micro/nanotribology, nanomechanics, microtribodynamics, and advanced interface materials. Emphasis has been on micro/nanoscale contact problems with applications to micro-devices, as well as the tribology of devices for reduced energy and improved environmental-related impact. Polycarpou is the author of more than 280 archival journal papers, numerous book chapters, volume proceedings, and two dozen patents. Polycarpou is the co-founder of two startup companies and has been engaged and leading academic technology entrepreneurship programs. Polycarpou won numerous national and international awards, most recently the ASME Hersey Award, and the ASME Church Medal. Polycarpou is active in the tribology and mechanics communities, where he served in many posts, including chairing the ASME Tribology Division, and ASME’s Department Heads Council.

The Cyber Fellows Speaker Series is open to Cyber Fellows, related faculty, and our external partners. The speaker series is an opportunity for Cyber Fellows to have deep conversations with cyber industry professionals, venture capitalists, founders, and entrepreneurs. For more information, email randy-roberts@utulsa.edu.