Sandra Blanke Ph.D., CISSP

Why did you become a professor?
I became a professor partially because I felt that I had experienced significant, unique business opportunities as a corporate executive.  Given the opportunity to become a university professor I could share with graduate students my experiences and knowledge that would help them in their individual business careers. 

Additionally, I was incredibly impressed with my Masters’ professors and I realized at the right time in my career I wanted to be that professor that students looked up to, trusted and felt contributed to their career success. 

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy all aspects of teaching.  I like working with students and student teams on actual business problems and opportunities, seeing them effectively create strategies and recommendations and then effectively present their work.   

What do you hope students gain from your courses?
I trust and believe students realize the courses I have created and teach and the discussions we have are based on real business situations, issues and/or opportunities.  It is especially rewarding when students tell me “the class was hard work, they learned a great deal and feel what they learned they can use now and well into the future.”

What did you do prior to entering academia?
Prior to academia I was a corporate executive at a large data communications company.  Over the many years I gained experience in many departments and learned the industry from an operations, sales engineering and customer service perspective.  I learned the business, the technology and maybe more important how to effectively listen, lead large teams and respect and value the contributions of team members. 

What are you passionate about outside of the University?
I have a wonderful family life.  My husband “Hank” and I have been married 35+ years and we are each other’s best friends whether we are boating, traveling, or doing chores.  We have a wonderful daughter, son-in-law and new baby grandson that we look forward to seeing as much as possible. 

What are your research interests?
My research interests are in the rapidly changing and developing areas of cybersecurity and emerging technologies.   I enjoy working with other researchers to better understand today’s major issues and offer real recommendations that when accepted and implemented are important and valued by the business.   I enjoy studying new emerging technologies and how the Internet of Things (IoT) if not carefully developed and implemented increases risk to privacy and/or financial security.  It is interesting to recognize how new technologies may entirely change our thinking in the way we perform our work functions.  Emerging technologies potentially can disrupt the labor force skills needed and consequently the skills academia should be teaching. 

IP3 Instructor for CISSP Boot Camp 2009 

Consultant System Process Design and Implementation, Innovar Consulting 2004 – 2005

Director Enterprise Organization Systems Design and Development, Verizon Communications 2000 – 2004

Director Strategic Markets Sales and Center Operations, GTE Communications 1999 – 2000

Director Medium Business Customer Operations, GTE Communications 1997-1999

Dr. Blanke teaches courses in cybersecurity, technology and business within the Master's and Doctoral Programs at the Gupta College of Business.

Dr. Blanke’s research, teaching and consulting areas of expertise include Cyber Security, Risk Management, Disaster Recovery, Emerging Technologies and Cyber Insurance.

Dissertation:
A Study of the Contributions of Attitude, Security Policy Awareness and Computer Self Efficacy on the Employees’ Computer Abuse Intention in Business Environments, 2009.

Blanke, S.J. & McGrady, E. (2016). When it comes to securing patient health information from breaches your best medicine is a dose of prevention: A Cybersecurity risk assessment checklist. 

Blanke, S., & McGrady, E. (2009). A Performance Based Approach to 
Continuity Planning. In James Langabeer (Eds.), Performance Improvement in Hospitals and Health Systems (pp. 143-156). Chicago, IL: Health Information and Management Systems Society.

Cyber Security Presentation to the Dallas Women’s Topics and Trends Group 

Panel Discussions:

Texas Dean’s Association Meeting at UD – Panel Discussion on Cybersecurity 

2016 – Chamber of Commerce Event at UD – with the Las Colinas and Washington, DC Chamber for Irving Business Organizations

2015 - Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference entitled “Education Session – IT Security, Are You the Next Healthcare Hack?” Dallas Renaissance Hotel, Dallas Texas September 11, 2015. ( http://dfw.himsschapter.org/Events/event.aspx?ItemNumber=43335 )