UT San Antonio leaders have named Natalie Sjelin executive director of the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), a nationally recognized center for cybersecurity research, training, and community outreach.
With more than two decades of experience in cybersecurity education, training and national preparedness initiatives, Sjelin also has a long history at UT San Antonio.
Appointed CIAS interim director in 2024, Sjelin officially stepped into the lead role this year.
“Natalie brings continuity and a clear understanding of CIAS’s mission,” said Fred Martin, interim dean of the College of AI, Cyber and Computing at UT San Antonio. “Her leadership has been instrumental to the center’s success, and I am confident CIAS will continue to thrive under her direction.
Sjelin said she was attracted to UT San Antonio early in her career because of its growth and opportunity. “I was hoping to find a place where I could make a difference and build a career I would be proud of,” she said. “Looking back over the years, I know I found both.”
Sjelin joined the university in 1993 in the Faculty Academic Center for Technology Transfer, where her interest in technology began through hands-on work supporting faculty.
“That’s where my love for technology really started,” Sjelin said. “It engaged my problem-solving skills and never stopped presenting new challenges.”
She later transitioned to the Center for Professional Excellence in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, where she helped establish the Executive MBA program. Encouraged by longtime mentor Glen Dietrich, PhD, she joined CIAS as a program manager and expanded her cybersecurity expertise by developing cybersecurity community-level exercises and specialized training programs.
Sjelin was promoted to assistant director and then associate director of the CIAS training program, overseeing a growing portfolio of cybersecurity offerings. Greg White, PhD, former CIAS director, provided opportunities that strengthened her leadership skills and broadened the center’s national reach.
In 2012, Sjelin was recruited by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to build and launch its cybersecurity training program, leading that program’s growth from concept to a nationally delivered portfolio.
She returned to UT San Antonio and CIAS in 2015 to help lead the Information Sharing and Analysis Organization Standards Organization, and later reestablished and expanded the CIAS Training Program.
Stepping into the executive director role, she said, carries deep personal and professional meaning for Sjelin.
“When I originally joined the center in 2002, we were a team of three, and I never imagined I would one day have the privilege of leading the organization,” Sjelin said. “Following in the footsteps of leaders who shaped CIAS is both an honor and a responsibility.”
Sjelin’s short-term priorities include ensuring CIAS remains a strong provider of cybersecurity operational readiness across its core areas of competitions, gaming, training and information sharing.
“Each of these areas plays a critical role in preparing organizations to anticipate, withstand and respond to evolving cyber threats,” she said.
She also plans to strengthen academic partnerships within the College of AI, Cyber and Computing by aligning CIAS programs with faculty research and student engagement opportunities.
Looking ahead, Sjelin is focused on the long-term sustainability and growth of CIAS, including exploring collaborative opportunities with the Texas Cyber Command.
“My goal is to honor CIAS’s legacy while positioning it for sustained innovation and impact,” she said.
CIAS will continue to support cybersecurity education and workforce development through hands-on training, immersive exercises and experiential learning across the full education pipeline, from K–12 through professional audiences.
Community engagement remains central to the center’s mission, including efforts such as the CIAS Community Cybersecurity Clinic, which provides no-cost assistance to small organizations and underserved communities.
“My focus is on honoring the foundation that has been built, strengthening the people and partnerships that make the center successful, and ensuring CIAS and UT San Antonio remain national leaders in cybersecurity education, research and public service for years to come,” Sjelin said.
