Dr. Machica McClain (“Dr. Mac”) serves as the Dean of the School of Computer and Information Science and Co-Dean of the School of Business, Communication, and Information Technology. Since spring 2023, she has provided academic leadership in program innovation, faculty development, curriculum oversight, and strategic growth. Previously, she served as Program Director for the Master’s in Information Systems Security and the Master’s in Digital Forensics. With more than 18 years of experience teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in artificial intelligence, computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity, Dr. McClain brings extensive academic and administrative expertise to higher education.
Dr. McClain is also a cybersecurity and information technology professional with expertise in penetration testing, incident response, and cyber threat intelligence, supported by hands-on experience with tools such as Metasploit, Nessus, and Nmap. She has a strong technical foundation in programming languages, including Python, Java, C++, and SQL, as well as database systems such as SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL. Her research interests include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and distributed database systems. She holds several industry-recognized credentials, including the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, Certified ChatGPT Expert, and multiple IBM digital badges in cybersecurity disciplines, and maintains active membership in professional organizations, including the Order of the Sword & Shield (Omicron Sigma Sigma), Black Doctoral Network, and Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS).