Computer Information Systems

Practitioner-in-Residence

M.B.A., Appalachian State University
B.S.B.A, Appalachian State University

Christopher W. Taylor is a Practitioner-in-Residence of Computer Information Systems in the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University, based at the Hickory Campus. He obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Appalachian State University. He holds the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification and is a Certified Security Analyst from EC-Council (ECSA), credentials that continue to inform the hands-on ethical hacking and penetration testing methods he teaches in the classroom, along with a Business Analytics Certificate from Appalachian State University. He is also actively pursuing CISA and CISSP certifications, along with specialized credentials in AI data security and machine learning, to keep pace with the evolving threat landscape he prepares students for.

He has taught at App State since fall 2011 and brings nearly 20 years of real-world security experience to the classroom. He served as Director of Appalachian State's Cybersecurity program, guiding its growth from a concentration into a minor and ultimately a full B.S. major, and helped grow the program's student population significantly along the way. In this role, he designed the program's cybersecurity curriculum and was instrumental in establishing dedicated Cyber Labs at both the Boone and Hickory campuses, giving students authentic hands-on environments to explore security tools and technologies, including the implementation of a dedicated cyber range platform for realistic, hands-on security training. He also facilitated Capture the Flag competitions with industry partners such as Cisco and Microsoft, giving students opportunities to earn resume-building micro-badges through real-world security challenges. He currently serves as Principal Investigator on the WNC Cyber Resilience Initiative, a grant-funded effort providing cybersecurity assessment and support to small and mid-sized organizations across Western North Carolina. He was previously the Network Operations Manager for Quadrant Information Security for five years, a firm that specializes in information security, and remains connected to the industry through consulting work to keep his knowledge of real-world security threats current.

At the Hickory campus, Chris launched Coffee and Conversations, an informal industry-in-residence initiative that brings professionals to campus for low-pressure conversations with students, whether sitting in on part of a class or simply being present in the student commons. The program is designed to give students earlier and more consistent exposure to industry perspectives well ahead of graduation.

Chris's work increasingly bridges cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. He was invited to present "Faked in Real Time: What Deepfakes Teach Us About AI, Trust, and Cybersecurity Careers" at AI Educators Day, a Google-funded regional conference, where he used a live deepfake demonstration to explore the intersection of AI literacy, digital trust, and cybersecurity career pathways.

Teaching Highlights

Taught a variety of face-to-face and online undergraduate and graduate courses at Appalachian State University, including Essential Business Tools and Techniques, Information Technology in the Organization, Database Management, Networking and IT Infrastructures, Programming Software Solutions, Systems Analysis and Design, Information Systems Project Management, AI, Business Systems and Cybersecurity, and Digital Forensics; and created the following undergraduate courses: Information Technology Auditing, Audit Analytics, Managing Security, Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures, Advanced Security, Advanced Data Communications and Networking, and Cybersecurity Internship; and the following graduate courses: Web Analytics and Cyber Security, and Web Analytics, Data Privacy and Security. As Cybersecurity Internship Coordinator, he actively fosters connections between students and industry.

• Multiple-time recipient of the Most Memorable Professor Award, Appalachian State University Walker College of Business Honors Convocation (2018-2025)
• Two-time recipient of the Walker College of Business Sywassink Non-Tenure Track Award (2013, 2024)
• Recipient, inaugural Hickory Innovation Award (2026)

Recent Publications

Books

Cazier, J., Wink B., and Taylor C., "Hacking to Learn: A Hands On Prep Guide for CEH Certification," Amazon Kindle Edition, October 2013.

Publications

Hartley, R., Iyer, L., Taylor, C. "Ethical Hacking Skills: Review of Pedagogical Approaches and Recommendation of Best Practices," Proceedings of the EDSIG Conference, November 2018.
Nakayama, M., Taylor, C., Chen, C. "The Effects of Perceived Functionality and Usability on Privacy and Security Concerns about Adopting Cloud Applications," Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, Volume 10, Number 2, 2017.
Taylor, C., Hunsinger S. "A Study of Student Use of Cloud Computing Applications," Journal of Information Technology Management, Volume XXII, Number 3, 2011.
Taylor C. "Cloud Computing at the University Level: A Study of Student Use of Cloud Computing Applications," Appalachian State University Archives, May 2011.
Taylor, C. "Cloud Computing: A Newer Phenomenon in the IT Segment of Supply Chain," SEDSI 2011 Proceedings, February 2011.

Conferences

EDSIG Conference on Information Systems & Computing Education (EDSIGCON), November 2018, Norfolk, VA Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR), November 2016, Las Vegas, NV
Association of Information Technology Professionals National Collegiate Conference (AITP NCC), March 2011, Orlando, Florida
Southeast Decision Sciences Institute (SEDSI), February 2011, Savannah, Georgia

Service Highlights

• Co-Faculty Advisor, Appalachian Information Technology Professionals (AppITP), August 2012
• Over 40 national awards
• Brings industry speakers on campus and takes students on academic and company trips
• Over the past decade, more than a third of CIS graduates have landed jobs at companies that presented at AppITP meetings, with over forty students placed in internships and full-time roles since 2022 at organizations including PwC, Grant Thornton, CACI, Truist, Ally Bank, Lockheed Martin, Lowe's Hardware, and Volvo
• Principal Investigator, WNC Cyber Resilience Initiative (WatchYosef), 2025-present

Professional Memberships

Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), August 2019
Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), April 2017
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Information Systems Applied Research (JISAR), January 2018