Trusted CI Advisory Committee
Trusted CI, the NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, has relied on expertise from its staff, multiple internationally recognized institutions, and its collaboration with numerous NSF-funded research organizations to address the ongoing cybersecurity challenges for higher education and high-performance computing scientific research. Trusted CI also relies on input from the highly credentialed and experienced members of its Advisory Committee.
Damian Clarke, PhD - Vice President for Information Technology
Dr. Damian Clarke is a beacon of innovation and leadership within the education sector, boasting an illustrious career spanning two dynamic decades. He is the 2024 Stevie Award winner for visionary leadership in education and educational technology, who uses AI to level the playing field. In addition, he is an Alabama Nonprofit/Public Sector 2021 Finalist CIO of the Year ORBIE Award.
As the Vice President of Technology at Alabama State University (ASU), Damian has pioneered groundbreaking strategies and solutions, revolutionizing large-scale infrastructure deployments. As a senior member of ASU's leadership team, Damian plays a pivotal role in shaping major IT decisions and spearheading the campus's infrastructure strategy and deployment. He oversees critical components, including the university's network and communications infrastructure, academic information technology, enterprise resource planning, and customer relationship management systems. His leadership extends to supporting all levels of research, learning, and teaching, ensuring seamless operations across the institution.
Before his tenure at ASU, Damian held esteemed positions, including Chief Information Officer at Meharry Medical College, Alabama A&M University, and South Carolina State University, and Chief Data Officer at Tennessee State University. Throughout his career, Damian has been committed to delivering the highest quality of service and system availability, catering to the needs of over 15,000 students, faculty, and staff.
Damian's unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and innovative spirit continue to inspire and shape the future of education technology, leaving an indelible mark on institutions and individuals alike.
Eric Cross - Head of IT at National Solar Observatory
With more than two decades of experience, Cross brings a wealth of expertise to the industry. Throughout his career, he demonstrated leadership skills in managing diverse teams and spearheading successful IT projects. He is proficient in the integration and design of multi-platform infrastructure, coupled with a strong background in cybersecurity. Cross is dedicated to fostering strong team dynamics, creating lasting relationships, and earning the respect and admiration of colleagues and customers. Cross earned a Master of Science in computer information systems from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Arizona.
Jarret Cummings - Senior Advisor, Policy and Government at EDUCAUSE
Jarret Cummings serves EDUCAUSE as senior advisor for Policy and Government Relations. In this capacity, he oversees association efforts to address federal policy issues with significant implications for higher education IT, particularly regarding information security and data privacy, IT accessibility, and networking and telecommunications. Cummings has been with EDUCAUSE since 2004, having previously worked as a federal policy specialist, special assistant to the president, and program administrator for the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI). He holds a master’s in public administration from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s in philosophy from Southwestern University.
Manish Parashar, PhD - Chief AI Officer for the University of Utah
Manish Parashar is the inaugural Chief AI Officer for the University of Utah. He is also the Executive Director of the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute and Presidential Professor in the University of Utah’s Kahlert School of Computing. He also leads the University of Utah’s One-U Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative (One-U RAI)
Manish recently completed appointments at NSF as Office Director of the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, where he oversaw investments in national cyberinfrastructure, and at OSTP, where he led Strategic Computing. He served as co-chair of the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on the Future Advanced Computing Ecosystem and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force. He also co-led the COVID-19 High-Performance Computing Consortium.
Manish’s recent awards include the 2023 IEEE Sidney Fernbach Award, the 2024 CRA Distinguished Service Award, and the 2025 ACM Distinguished Service Award. Manish is a Fellow of AAAS, ACM, and IEEE.
Jennifer Schopf, PhD - Director of Network Partnerships at TACC
Jennifer Schopf oversees the NSF Engagement and Performance Operations Center, a joint effort with the Department of Energy (DoE) Energy Science Network. She is also the PI for the University of Texas at Austin’s Open Source Program Office. She works closely with the University of Texas system institutions to support the use of the Texas research and educational networks as well as supporting various NSF, DOE, and National Institute of Health projects. Prior to joining the Texas Advanced Computing Center, Schopf was director of International Networks at Indiana University. Schopf earned doctoral and master degrees in computer science and engineering from the University of California San Diego.
Randy Trudeau - Information Security Officer at CalTech LIGO
Randy Trudeau is the information security officer at CalTech LIGO. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large-scale physics experiment and observatory designed to detect cosmic gravitational waves and to develop gravitational-wave observations as an astronomical tool. Previously, he held other IT security and networking positions at Southern California Edison, The Walt Disney Company, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Trudeau is SANS GIAC GSEC certified and received a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems from Azusa Pacific University.
Cheryl Washington - Chief Information Security Officer at UC Davis
Cheryl Washington is the chief information security officer for the University of California at Davis. Washington has more than 20 years of experience developing and managing IT and information security programs in higher education. Currently, Washington leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive information security program that supports the academic, research, and public service mission of the University of California at Davis. She works closely with faculty, staff, management, and UC’s information security professionals to implement strategies to protect personal and institutional information assets.