Southeastern Cyber Cup: Mini-Session Schedule

Mini-Session Conference

October 24, 2025 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join at c.gatech.edu/SoutheasternCyberCup

8:00 a.m.

Competition Begins

Final "Capture the Flag" team competition!

8:30 a.m.

Welcome Address

Leo Howell

Vice President of IT & Chief Information Officer

Georgia Tech

Leo Howell, a visionary IT leader, serves as vice president for IT and chief information officer at Georgia Tech. In this role, he provides leadership and oversight in the development, strategic direction, and implementation of information technology. As a CISSP and CISA, he possesses deep knowledge and commitment to cybersecurity. He formerly served as the Institute's chief information security officer (CISO) and as CISO at the University of Oregon. Howell holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Electronics from the University of the West Indies and an MBA from North Carolina State University.

8:50 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

Joe Lewis

Chief Information Security Officer

Georgia Tech

Joe Lewis joined Georgia Tech with broad experience and expertise in strategic planning, coalition building, IT service delivery, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity program implementation. In his previous assignment, he served as vice president for Cybersecurity Solutions for Leidos Health and Civil Sector, and interim CISO for Leidos QTC Health Services. Before joining Leidos Joe was a public servant for nearly 15 years, serving as the CISO for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lewis is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University Chief Information Security Officer’s Executive Education Program and completed his Ph.D. in Cybersecurity Leadership from Capitol Technology University.

9:25 a.m.

Scoreboard Check-in #1

Grace Victor

Business Relationship Manager

Georgia Tech

Grace Victor has worked at Georgia Tech for over 14 years and currently serves as a Business Relationship Manager. She is passionate about aligning technology with institutional goals and fostering strong relationships across departments. Grace also brings enthusiasm for events, engagement, and enhancing employee experiences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Law and Society from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice. Having grown up as an Army brat with dual citizenship in Germany, Grace values connection, adaptability, and collaboration in everything she does.

9:45 a.m.

Zero Trust

Jesse Docket

Application Developer

Georgia Tech

Jesse Dockett is a Lead Application Developer for the Identity and Access Management Team. He builds middleware applications and data workflows in secure ways to ensure people and accounts at Georgia Tech have the access they need automatically. He is set to graduate with his Master's in Cybersecurity from Georgia Tech in December, and is passionate about leading and developing the cybersecurity professionals of tomorrow.

Amber Wells

Application Developer

Georgia Tech

Amber Wells is an Application Developer at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she contributes to the Identity and Access Management (IAM) team. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, Amber is passionate about making technology more accessible. She focuses on translating complex cybersecurity solutions into clear, actionable documentation and advocates for inclusive IAM systems that serve diverse user needs.

Dondrey Taylor

Developer Lead, Cybersecurity

Georgia Tech

Dondrey is an application developer lead in Cybersecurity at Georgia Tech with 17+ years of experience developer software. He currently leads the design and implementation of the IAM platform, which is an on-premise and multi-cloud Department of Defense compliant environment for IAM services. Prior to Georgia Tech, Dondrey spent over 7 years focusing on banking infrastructure and operations for a financial services company, which includes developing software to support payment processing, P.C.I. compliance, and various consumer and business banking products.

10:35 a.m.

The Impacts of AI on Cyber, IT in Post-Secondary and Higher Education Spaces

Sherman Lofton - Session Facilitator

Sr. Director Cybersecurity

Georgia Tech

Sherman M. Lofton, Jr. is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and a proud alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management with minors in Finance and Management Information Systems. He currently serves as a Sr Director of Cybersecurity Operations at Georgia Tech, where he has provided leadership since 2022. In this role, Sherman oversees multiple teams that are responsible for protecting enterprise and Institute systems, strengthening digital defenses, and advancing organizational resilience in an ever-evolving cyber landscape. Sherman has worked in Cybersecurity for the last twenty-five years including in segments such as higher education, media and entertainment, software & services and for federal agencies.

Kerry Hixon

CISO and Director of Cybersecurity and IT Compliance

Spelman College

Kerry Hixon is the CISO and Director of Cybersecurity and IT Compliance at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Kerry came to Spelman in 2021, with over 30 years of experience in Information Technology, Information Security, Solutions Engineering and Process Improvement. Prior to joining Spelman, he was a Cyber Risk Consultant at Deloitte, where he led the deployment of complex technical cybersecurity solutions. Kerry is a Native of Rome, Georgia and a veteran of the United States Navy where he maintained tactical data systems and cryptographic communications equipment.

Charles Allen Sr.

Director of Operational IT

Atlanta International School

Charles Allen, Sr. is a balanced and versatile technology director with more than 12 years of experience in education and 28 years of corporate IT experience. He has expertise in designing, implementing, and managing technology solutions that support teaching, learning, and administrative operations. Prior to education, Allen held key IT positions in various industries, gaining a strong foundation in technology infrastructure, systems, and processes.

Maxwell R. Smith

Cybersecurity Architect

Savannah State University

Maxwell R. Smith is the Cybersecurity Architect at Savannah State University, bringing over 20 years of diverse experience across information technology, cybersecurity, and criminal justice fields. Maxwell holds dual Associate of Applied Science degrees in Cybersecurity and Networking Specialist from Augusta Technical College, alongside certifications in Cisco Network Specialist and Microsoft Network Administration. He has managed complex server environments, providing critical IT services for academic institutions like Valdosta State University, where he served as Network Services Tech II.

Ray Hunter

Information Security Risk & Compliance Manager at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)

Georgia Tech

As a seasoned Information Security Risk & Compliance Manager at GTRI, Ray serves in a fusion role that integrates Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) with operational cybersecurity through the Information Security Operations Center (ISOC). Drawing on his experience as a U.S. Army veteran, Ray brings a disciplined, mission-focused approach to protecting critical information assets and aligning security strategies with organizational goals. His expertise lies in vulnerability management, IT controls, compliance frameworks, and risk assessment, ensuring GTRI upholds a robust and resilient cybersecurity posture.

11:50 a.m.

Scoreboard Check-in #2

Grace Victor - Business Relationship Manager, Georgia Tech

12:15 p.m.

Cybersecurity Career Panel

Angi Whatley - Career Panel Facilitator

Interim Executive Director - Strategic Initiatives

Georgia Tech

Angi Whatley, an Atlanta native, earned a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech. As GEMA's first African-American Division Director, she enhanced disaster management, impacting 29 federal disasters and managing over $1.04 billion in recovery. After 21 years, she transitioned to IT and strategic management at Georgia Tech, rising to Senior Director of Business Relationship and Strategy. Garnering support from her direct leadership, Angi pioneered the IT BRM team, aligning technology with institutional goals. A BRM Institute member, she has co-authored two influential playbooks. Angi's unwavering drive continues to inspire and lead transformative change across diverse fields.

Carol Tran

Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst

Georgia Tech

Carol Tran is a Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she focuses on incident response, phishing analysis, and cybersecurity operations. With certifications including Security+ and GCFE, she brings hands-on experience in incident response, threat detection, and security monitoring. Currently pursuing her Master’s in Cybersecurity Policy. Passionate about bridging policy and technical defense, also manages Georgia Tech’s PhishBowl project, an awareness platform that helps users recognize and report phishing threats.

Curtis Sutton

Security Operations Center Lead

Georgia Tech

Curtis Sutton is a seasoned Security Operations Center Lead with extensive experience leading security operations teams and responding to complex cyber threats. He specializes in incident response, threat hunting, and operationalizing threat intelligence to strengthen enterprise security posture. Also, he's passionate about developing analysts and maturing SOC capabilities, he thrives in high-pressured environments where collaboration and precision are key.

Brandon Sheu

Senior Consultant

Deloitte

Brandon Sheu graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. He currently is a Senior Consultant in Deloitte’s Federal Government Consulting practice, where he supports federal health agencies on a variety of cybersecurity and privacy initiatives. His experience ranges from supporting cybersecurity audit remediations to revamping privacy programs to better protect sensitive information at the national level. And, despite being in the workforce now, Brandon still makes time to visit his local Waffle House- keeping a favorite Georgia Tech tradition alive!

Mini-Session Conference

October 24, 2025 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

8:00 a.m.

Competition Begins

8:30 a.m.

Welcome Address

Leo Howell

Vice President of IT & Chief Information Officer

Georgia Tech

8:50 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

Joe Lewis

Chief Information Security Officer

Georgia Tech

9:25 a.m.

Scoreboard Check-in #1

Grace Victor

Business Relationship Manager

Georgia Tech

9:45 a.m.

Zero Trust

Jesse Docket

Application Developer

Georgia Tech

Amber Wells

Application Developer

Georgia Tech

Dondrey Taylor

Developer Lead, Cybersecurity

Georgia Tech

10:35 a.m.

The Impacts of AI on Cyber, IT in Post-Secondary and Higher Education Spaces

Sherman Lofton - Session Facilitator

Sr. Director Cybersecurity

Georgia Tech

Kerry Hixon

CISO and Director of Cybersecurity and IT Compliance

Spelman College

Charles Allen Sr.

Director of Operational IT

Atlanta International School

Maxwell R. Smith

Cybersecurity Architect

Savannah State University

Ray Hunter

Information Security Risk & Compliance Manager at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)

Georgia Tech

11:50 a.m.

Scoreboard Check-in #2

12:15 p.m.

Cybersecurity Career Panel

Angi Whatley - Career Panel Facilitator

Interim Executive Director - Strategic Initiatives

Georgia Tech

Carol Tran

Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst

Georgia Tech

Curtis Sutton

Security Operations Center Lead

Georgia Tech

Brandon Sheu

Senior Consultant

Deloitte

1:00 p.m.

Competition Ends

1:10 p.m.

Winners Announced & Closing Remarks

Georgia Institute of Technology