BLAKE PENN

BLAKE PENN recently joined Colgate University as its first chief information security officer (CISO) and director of information security. He previously served as information security policy and compliance manager for cybersecurity at the Georgia Institute of Technology. As CISO, Penn will provide operational oversight on issues of data privacy and information security, including data compliance, business continuity, user awareness, incident response, operational security, and more. He will also provide leadership in developing information-security policies and best practices. Penn’s career in cybersecurity spans nearly two decades, with duties ranging from engineering to executive management. Prior to joining the Georgia Institute of Technology, he served as director of information security at the CPA firm KirkpatrickPrice. Penn spent eight years as a principal consultant at cybersecurity company Trustwave and has also served as CISO at University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Currently completing his doctorate in public administration at Valdosta State University, Penn holds a bachelor’s degree in applied biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in computer science from Columbus State University.