Clemson professor receives fellowship from Trusted CI, National Science Foundation Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

A Clemson University professor has been selected to participate in the National Science Foundation’s 2023 Trusted Cyberinfrastructure (CI) Open Science Cybersecurity Fellows program. 

David White, research assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, is one of six Fellows chosen by Trusted CI to participate in the prestigious program this year. 

The Trusted CI Fellows program provides cybersecurity experts and global research leaders with professional development opportunities, training and other resources in order to develop their knowledge and skills in the field of cybersecurity. In exchange, Fellows serve as liaisons within their scientific and geographic communities, champion for cybersecurity research and communicate challenges and successes to Trusted CI.

Prior to joining the parks, recreation and tourism management department, White worked in CCIT’s Cyber Infrastructure Technology Integration for ten years, managing data and information resources in support of academic research projects across campus. He is an expert in geographic information systems (GIS) with over twenty years of experience in mapping, analytics and managing spatial data systems. White is also a geospatial data scientist and senior instructor at Clemson’s Center for Geospatial Technologies, and his work has been instrumental in advancing the University’s research and development in GIS-related projects.  

I am honored to be chosen for the 2023 cohort of the Trusted CI Fellows program, said White. This fellowship presents an exciting opportunity for me to contribute to the advancement of cybersecurity excellence – both at Clemson University and within the broader academic community in support of regulated research.

He said there is a growing obligation to comply with federal requirements and ethical guidelines in order to protect the rights and privacy of individuals and organizations within academic communities. The cybersecurity field needs a community of practitioners specialized in regulated research for effective and efficient approaches to cybersecurity that will support the growth and credibility of the social sciences.  

Prior to joining the University in 2008, White received a Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in marine biology from the College of Charleston. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Oregon. 

Dr. White’s cybersecurity expertise plays a vital role in the College’s mission to build people and communities, said Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. His work helps individuals and communities protect themselves against cyber threats – a growing issue in the digital age. It is indeed an honor to be recognized by the NSF for this esteemed fellowship and is a reflection on the caliber of his research and contributions to the field of cybersecurity.

The College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences is a 21st-century land-grant college joining together a unique combination of schools and departments: Communication, Nursing, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health Sciences and Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. These areas have distinctive characteristics and missions – all joined together by a common thread of service to people and communities.