Nita Awatramani appointed assistant vice president and chief information security officer
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Following a national search, Nita Awatramani has been appointed assistant vice president and chief information security officer, effective June 22.
In this role, Awatramani will collaborate closely with Thomas Bunton, associate vice president and chief information officer for the Division of Information Technology. She will lead the university's efforts to strengthen its overall cybersecurity health and readiness and formalize and mature the information security management program. Awatramani will lead a dedicated team of IT professionals, manage the university’s cybersecurity strategy, and make key decisions concerning risk assessments, security measures and responses to emerging threats.
“Nita understands the challenges that higher education institutions face, particularly R1 research institutions. She is committed to developing security solutions that support the university's mission rather than restrict it,” Bunton said. “Her approach balances vigilance against new and existing threats with the flexibility needed in academic environments.”
Awatramani previously worked at the University of Southern California, serving as the executive program director for security strategy and execution. In that role, she led the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 compliance program to protect the university's intellectual property, research funding and reputation as a top-tier R1 research institution, enhancing its ability to compete for future awards and grants.
Before her position at USC, Awatramani was senior information risk management and audit management manager at Verizon, Corporate Information Security. She provided strategic insights on regulatory changes and emerging technologies, assessing their impact and associated risks.
“The search committee was impressed with the expertise that Nita brings to K-State, which will enhance our cybersecurity footprint, but even more so, her deep understanding and commitment to the success of the research enterprise,” stated Stacy Hutchinson, search committee chair.
Awatramani holds a Master of Science in cybersecurity from Purdue Global, a Master of Computer Applications, Computer Science from the Institute of Management Technology and a Bachelor of Science with mathematics honors from Calcutta University. She also holds various cybersecurity certifications.