UA Little Rock Alumnus Excels in Cybersecurity Field
A UA Little Rock alumnus who earned three degrees from the university has risen to the top of the cybersecurity field. Now working as a cybersecurity professional at Google, he continues to give back to his alma mater as a professor, helping to shape the next generation of cyber professionals.
After earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. from UA Little Rock, Dr. Sri Gourisetti has established himself as a leader in the fast-growing field of cybersecurity with 11 years of industry experience and more than 100 publications with over 1,600 citations.
Currently employed as a senior cybersecurity advisor in the Office of the Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) at Google, Gourisetti navigates the ever-evolving landscape of digital security with his extensive knowledge and hands-on experience.
“It’s a very interesting office within Google,” Gourisetti said. “Our team acts as trusted advisors to Chief Information Security Officers and other executives at major Google Cloud customers. My focus is on guiding manufacturing and energy companies through secure digital transformation initiatives, leveraging the power of Cloud and AI. This role allows me to combine my technical expertise and strategic thinking to address complex and engaging challenges.”
When Gourisetti was earning his bachelor’s degree in India, he came to UA Little Rock in 2007 as part of a student exchange program. He liked it so much that he decided to stay here, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electronics and computer engineering, a master’s degree in electrical systems engineering, and a Ph.D. in engineering science and systems from UA Little Rock.
After earning his master’s degree, Gourisetti moved to Washington to work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he directed global-scale projects for the U.S. Department of Energy and DARPA. In 2021, Gourisetti went to work for National Resilience, a company founded in 2020 with the purpose to broaden access to complex medicines and to protect biopharmaceutical supply chains against disruption.
“I tend to focus on the type of work where I can have an impact on something that I care about,” Gourisetti said. “During the pandemic, I actually lost 11 people that I knew to COVID. It was a time that was very frustrating. Then I came across this company whose mission was to battle this, and that mission resonated with me. Then I came across this opportunity with Google, and I had an opportunity to use the lessons I learned in my previous roles to help companies across different sectors.”
Despite his demanding role at one of the world’s top tech companies, he remains deeply connected to UA Little Rock. As a visiting assistant professor in the cybersecurity program, Gourisetti uses his industry expertise to guide students, preparing them for their own careers in this crucial area. His story is a testament to the power of education, dedication, and staying connected to the community that shaped his success.
“When I was going to UA Little Rock, the faculty was always very kind to me,” Gourisetti said. “Now I am getting a chance to apply those same situations to my own students. It wasn’t all that long ago that I was a student, and I still remember struggling with things. This allows me to put myself in their shoes. At the end of the day, my goal is to help them become successful cybersecurity leaders once they graduate.”
Gourisetti explained that his current position with Google is an asset in the classroom, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on Security Operations, Threat Analytics, Cyber Security Data Analytics, Cyber Risk Management, and Systems Security.
“Working at Google allows me to bring real-world experience into the classroom, keeping the material fresh and relevant,” he said. “It provides a platform to share valuable insights and lessons from my professional journey, making the coursework more dynamic. While books give us a strong foundation, this hands-on experience enables me to connect theory with real-world applications for my students.”
There is such a need for cybersecurity professionals in today’s market that Gourisetti advises his students to focus on finding what they are passionate about in the cybersecurity industry.
“The field is so hungry for good cybersecurity professionals that I advise them not to worry so much about getting a job,” he said. “I would focus on where you want to see yourself in 20 or 30 years from now. What role can I play in the betterment of the planet? What am I passionate about? Students should combine their passion with the positive impact they can have on society and make decisions according to that. They will automatically find opportunities they will love.”
