The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Taurean Russell as the new Vice President of Information Technology. An accomplished IT professional with a history of strengthening the resiliency and security of organizations in highly regulated industries, Russell joins IALR during a time of significant growth.

“I’m honored to be part of IALR, where I can leverage my experience in IT security and operations to support the region’s growth. My goal is to build a proactive IT culture that promotes innovation while ensuring the highest levels of security and reliability.” – Taurean Russell, Vice President, Information Technology, IALR

Russell’s experience includes serving as Deputy Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Winston-Salem State University, where he managed the university’s IT infrastructure and security programs. In 2023, Cyber Defense Magazine recognized him as one of the Top Global CISOs. He has held numerous leadership roles across diverse industries, including healthcare, higher education, manufacturing and the U.S. Army. His expertise includes information security, risk management, IT operations and strategic planning.

Russell will contribute to IALR’s growth by maintaining and strengthening cybersecurity standards and improving technology processes for various training and education programs. His responsibilities include ensuring that IT systems and processes support IALR’s strategic goals, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, implementing IT systems and tools and developing IT policies, standards and procedures. His work will focus on building a resilient IT infrastructure that supports applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing training and services, the IALR Conference Center and economic development across Southern Virginia.

“Taurean brings a unique blend of leadership experience across various industries and a deep understanding of IT security and resilience. His expertise will be crucial in supporting IALR’s growth, and we are confident that his contributions will drive innovation and efficiency throughout our organization.” – John H. Hughes, IV, Ed.D., Executive Vice President, Operations, IALR