Data Privacy and Security (Lunch & Learn)

Registration required: Zoom

Presenter: Lauren Mayhew, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, UMA

Abstract: As organizations collect, analyze, and share unprecedented volumes of data, protecting sensitive information has become both a technical and ethical imperative. This talk explores the changing landscape of data security and privacy, highlighting the risks posed by modern threats, including large-scale breaches, insider misuse, and poorly governed data practices.

The examination of core principles of data protection—confidentiality, integrity, minimization, and transparency—is a topic that warrants further discussion. Additionally, there needs to be an examination of how regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and emerging U.S. privacy laws currently shape organizational responsibilities. Through real-world examples, this session connects policy, technology, and human behavior to demonstrate how privacy can be embedded into system design rather than treated as an afterthought.

Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of key challenges, common pitfalls, and actionable strategies for building trust, reducing risk, and responsibly managing data in an increasingly interconnected world.