Bio

Guido is a pioneer of the start-up industry with over 20 years of experience in problem solving and a deep passion for integrated sensing, novel monitoring, and testing solutions.

Education

Guido earned his Doctorate in Computer Science at the University of Minnesota, introducing a novel theory, methodology, and approach for human body sensing. His educational background includes a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, and a M.S. and a B.S. in Telecommunication Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin and the University of Palermo respectively, in Italy.

Professional Background

Guido has led hardware and software engineering teams in start-up organizations, successfully translating concepts and ideas into prototypes and consumer-driven commercial products.

Motivation for Teaching

Guido’s passion for teaching is rooted in his extensive academic journey and enriched by over a decade of experience in the start-up industry. Guido has the goal of inspiring students to become top talents in their respective fields, equipping them with the tools and understanding needed to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and innovation.

Helping Students Be Successful

Guido is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that actively engages students in their educational journey. By stimulating critical thinking through dynamic question-and-answer sessions, students will be encouraged to explore concepts creatively and rigorously. Building authentic relationships based on open and transparent communication will be central, and trust and respect will lay the foundation for all learning experiences.

Bio

Nirav has 20-plus years of experience developing, testing, managing and deploying software solutions. The solutions include web, mobile, and database applications using various tools, programming languages, frameworks and cloud platforms. He has applied complex concepts in his work, such as Object-oriented programming, software design patterns, and REST APIs.

Education

Nirav earned a Master of Computer Science from Colorado State University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University.

Professional Background

Nirav works as a senior software developer at the University of Denver IT department helping with data integration, software implementation projects, and design and development of university-specific software solutions.

Prior to his current role, he worked in healthcare, food manufacturing, insurance, higher-ed and telecom industries in various roles as application developer, software engineer, team lead, manager and consultant.

Motivation for Teaching

Nirav has a passion for helping students learn complex computer science concepts by using easy-to-understand examples, practice vs theory differences and hands-on exercises.

Helping Students Be Successful

Nirav uses industry standard practices and methodology in his teaching, along with widely used Integrated Development Environments (IDE) tools. This sets up students well to adapt to real-life work environment.

Bio

Kyle Ennenga is a cybersecurity practitioner with more than 15 years of professional experience across technical, operational leadership, project and program management, and consulting roles. Today, he serves as a Cybersecurity Specialist at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, he provides cybersecurity subject matter expertise to an antiterrorism program.

Education

Kyle earned a B.A. in Political Science focusing on international and comparative politics from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He earned his M.S. in ICT (Information Systems Security concentration) from the University of Denver.

Professional Background

Kyle has served in technical and management roles across multiple industries, including government, consulting and financial services. This experience includes managing multi-million dollar federal I.T. contracts, and traditional I.T. project management, as well as leading a 24×7 SOC team at one of the world’s largest consulting firms. Kyle earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) in 2014. Before shifting to the I.T. industry, he served in public policy roles in Washington, D.C., as well as serving elected officials at the state and county levels.

Motivation for Teaching

Kyle is a self-described news junkie and technology geek who found his calling in educating others about the threats facing critical infrastructure across the country. Kyle brings this passion for educating others to the University of Denver where he delivers a variety of educational methods that students from all backgrounds can utilize to learn and grow. Kyle believes that students learn best when they share real-world experiences to bolster the absorption of technical concepts. The security industry is one of constant learning and adaptation and Kyle seeks to foster that environment amongst his students. He is readily available via email and virtual office hours to answer questions and provide guidance on the infosec and project and program management domains.

Bio

Breanna Wong is the Principal Manager of Product Strategy for Microsoft’s Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) solutions. She has focused on these AI solutions, which automatically document clinical care, since 2020 and loves sharing insights into the rapidly developing fields of AI and clinical documentation software with students.

Breanna has performed HIPAA, reimbursement, and financial consulting for private practices and ASCs. She also worked for a large healthcare system, with experience running IT project intake, the provider Epic usage coaching program, Epic Community Connect implementations for practices and hospitals, and the affiliate IT program.

Passionate about empowering others, Breanna serves as a course developer and adjunct faculty at the University of Denver and MSU and on the boards of the Colorado Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Colorado Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), Denver Medical Study Group (DMSG), Colorado Health Administration Alumni Association, and the Cornell Club of Colorado. She achieved her MBA-Healthcare Administration and M.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado and triple majored at Cornell University.

Bio

Dr. O’Toole has been a professional in the Web technology industry since 1994 when Netscape Navigator changed our lives forever. He’s worked closely with countless cross-sector enterprise cloud customers to strategically align business goals with the right web technologies and approaches to accelerate digital transformation and deliver complete experiences that engage, convert, and drive results.

Education

Ph.D., Information Technology, Media, Communication

Bio

Chad Eckles works in the technology industry, leading development and security engineering for a large‑scale cloud program. His work spans building innovative solutions, shaping security policy, and advising on complex technical architectures. He has taught at the University of Denver since 2021 and previously served as faculty at Colorado Technical University, specializing in computer science and cybersecurity.

Chad brings over 15 years of technical and leadership experience across the cybersecurity industry and the Department of Defense, supporting a wide range of high‑visibility initiatives. Chad also serves as a Maritime Cyber Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he leads Sailors across cyberspace operations and network defense mission areas.

Education

Chad earned an M.S. in Cybersecurity from Regis University and a B.S. in Resource & Technology Management from Troy University.

Bio

Tim Leddy has been a leader in the IT industry for over forty years. He has a deep understanding of information technology and managing technical organizations. His career coincides with the development and growth of the Internet.��

Education

Tim earned an MBA from the University of Colorado, Denver and a B.S. in Biology from John Carroll University

Professional Background

Tim was Senior Vice President of Customer Operations at Level 3 Communications. There he worked with high-profile organizations such as Verizon, AT&T, British Telecom, France Telecom, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, and all the major television networks. ��

Upon retiring from Level 3, Tim entered the public sector. He worked with Denver Public Schools and Adams 12 Five Star Schools, planning and implementing instructional platforms. While working with Adams 12, he helped define and implement the district’s remote learning response to the COVID-19 epidemic.��

Motivation for Teaching

Tim views teaching as an effort to pass on to the next generation of IT professionals the skills and knowledge necessary for a meaningful and successful career. His experience has shown him that the best days are yet to come. He aims to help each student to take advantage of future opportunities. ��

Helping Students Be Successful

Tim is passionate about teaching. He strives to make himself available to students on their schedules and to support them as they develop the skills necessary to thrive in today’s IT environment.

Bio

Cathie Wilson is a leader in IT and higher education with a background in database management, strategic operations, and the innovative integration of artificial intelligence in academic environments. In addition to her technical background, she has been a strong advocate for advancing women in technology through organizations such as Women in Technology International (WITI) and Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS).

Cathie Wilson is currently the Executive Director of AI Technologies and Strategic Operations at the University of Denver’s College of Professional Studies. In this role, she drives operational excellence, leads cross-functional teams, and spearheads AI-powered initiatives to transform both organizational processes and the student experience. Prior to this, Cathie was an Oracle Database Administrator and served as Academic Director for the Information Technology program at DU. She brings more than 15 years of IT consulting experience, including a decade of delivering Oracle solutions within diverse industries. Her career has encompassed every facet of database management, from OLTP systems and data warehousing to data mining and database design.

Cathie is passionate about harnessing technology—including AI and database innovations—to reimagine higher education and drive student success. She is dedicated to delivering exceptional learning experiences, whether online or in-person, always championing equity, accessibility, and the transformative power of education for every student.

Education

Cathie earned an M.S. in Computer Information Technology from Regis University.

Bio

Wendy Charles currently serves as a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Health Informatics and Healthcare Management programs for the University of Denver’s College of Professional Studies. She is a scientist with over 30 years of experience in clinical research operations and compliance, including serving as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Director for eight years.

Professional Background

Wendy has served for over a dozen years as a leader in industry and hospital setting management, including as Chief Scientific Officer for a software company. She has also published extensively about digital health and currently serves as the Editor in Chief of an academic journal section. As an educator, Wendy has been teaching graduate students for several years. In addition to teaching at DU, she continues to teach the business of digital health at the University of Colorado Denver and research ethics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She also served on several international committees that advise governments and industries about standards and regulatory interpretations.

Education

Wendy earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Science with a specialty in Health Information Technology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, an M.S. in Psychology from the University of Memphis, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder. She is certified as an Institutional Review Board Professional (CIP), Clinical Research Professional (CCRP), and Blockchain Professional (CBP).

Helping Students Be Successful

As an instructor in the Healthcare Management, Health Informatics, and Information Technology programs, Wendy prepares student learners to be future leaders in rapidly evolving environments driven by technological progress. She provides skills and tools about emerging technologies and practices that learners can apply to real-world settings.

Bio

Lisa Meacham (Doctorate in Computer Science – Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Colorado Technical University) currently serves as a systems engineer for CACI supporting Air Force Air Combat Command. Lisa provides subject matter expertise on systems engineering, enterprise architecture, network architecture, cybersecurity risk management framework, and cross domain solutions. Prior roles have included intelligence analysis for a national security agency, leading a large system of systems development effort to build cloud-based big data analytics for the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, as well as spearheading security cross-domain capabilities to provide applications access to U.S. allies. She has many professional accomplishments but her greatest achievement has been mentoring college interns and fellow workers on technical and leadership skills. Lisa has a passion for imparting knowledge, so she is excited to see students benefit from learning new things.