Recognizing Over Two Decades of Impact, INI Director Dr. Dena Hartios Tsamitis Receives Robert E. Doherty Award for Substantial and Sustained Contributions to Education

In a ceremony in the Rangos Ballroom on April 24, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) faculty, staff and friends gathered to honor the impact of exemplary members of the community at the annual Celebration of Education Awards. In her opening remarks, Kate Barraclough, vice provost for education, spoke on the impact of facutly, staff and graduate students on education at CMU and acknowledged past awardees who were in attendence. Next, Jim Garrett, the provost and chief academic officer, presented awards to graduate students and instructors for their teaching. Finally, Farnam Jahanian, President and Henry L. Hillman President's Chair, took the stage to present university awards.

The honoree of the 2025 Robert E. Doherty Award for Substantial and Sustained Contributions to Education, INI Director Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis has spent 25 years advancing interdisciplinary education while building a close-knit community of alumni, faculty, campus partners and industry supporters that has strengthened the Information Networking Institute (INI). Dr. Haritos Tsamitis was introduced by Dr. David Brumley, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), who noted her wide-ranging contributions to the CMU community through developing innovative programs, securing federal funding for scholarships and shaping a supportive and inclusive culture.

Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis with her family at the Celebration of Education event.

“It is an honor to join the ranks of Doherty Award winners who have forged new paths for education,” said Dr. Haritos Tsamitis. "Some of those giants are no longer with us, but their legacy continues to guide us: Angel Jordan, Harry Faulk, Paul Goodman and Barbara Lazarus — whose name is honored in my professorship. Her fierce advocacy for women in STEM is a torch I try to carry forward every day.” 

Over her 25 years at CMU, Dr. Haritos Tsamitis has advanced CMU's mission around the globe through impactful initiatives, adding to the legacy of the university. One of her first efforts was to help build an international community of educational partners. Dr. Haritos Tsamitis forged the relationship with Athens Information Technology (AIT) to establish CMU’s first global program in 2002: the Master of Science in Information Networking in Greece. One year later, she launched one of the country’s first graduate-level information security degrees in response to the need for a skilled federal cybersecurity workforce in the wake of 9/11. This established the M.S. in Information Security Technology & Management (MSISTM) program, which later became the M.S. in Information Security (MSIS) program.  

INI students in the First Global Program

She expanded global partnerships with the Hyogo Institute of Information Education Foundation in 2005, creating the INI Kobe Master of Science in Information Technology – Information Security (MSIT-IS). In 2007, she led the INI as it launched two new programs in Portugal. She later built upon the global programs paradigm to develop CMU’s first bicoastal degrees, where students divide their time between Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley, gaining valuable experiences in both locations.  

"Her dedication to advancing information networking and security education, promoting global programs, and fostering partnerships has left an indelible mark on the university and the rest of the world,” wrote Pradeep Khosla, former INI Director and Dean of the College of Engineering, who is currently the Chancellor at UC San Diego.  

Dr. Haritos Tsamitis has continued to advance cybersecurity education. The MSIS program has earned national recognition and is currently ranked the top cybersecurity graduate degree by Fortune. Dr. Haritos Tsamitis also leads efforts to maintain CMU’s designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) from the National Science Foundation (NSF). These designations certify the university’s strength in cybersecurity education and research and have allowed the INI to secure over $28M to support cybersecurity scholarships and outreach initiatives.  

More recently, Dr. Haritos Tsamitis has led the development of a new program at the INI. The M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Engineering – Information Security (MSAIE-IS) is part of a college-wide initiative to prepare graduate engineers to harness the transformative power of AI. The program provides students with a core curriculum heavily focused on AI and security courses, including topics like systems and tool chains, deep learning, ethics, ML and information security foundations. This prepares students for the growing intersection of AI and security that has a significant impact on national security and industry innovation. 

“For decades she has shaped the minds and careers of master's students in a way that has resonated throughout the world and built a department that is the envy of many others,” wrote Brumley, who contributed a letter of support to her nomination.  

Dr. Haritos Tsamitis's impact goes beyond the curriculum — through integrating holistic student support and a deep commitment to inclusion throughout the entire organization, she has created a welcoming culture. Her efforts reverberate throughout the INI and echo in the actions of alumni, students, faculty and staff. She has sustained a passion for encouraging women in STEM fields and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.  

Seeing the challenges of being a woman in a technical field, Dr. Haritos Tsamitis partnered with Chenxi Wang, former associate professor in the College of Engineering, in 2005 to found the student organization Women@INI (WINI). WINI has continued to provide networking and community events at the INI and is open to all students. She has also encouraged students to take an active role in building a supportive community by creating the Don’t Struggle Like I Did (DSLID) series, where students gather to share their struggles and offer support for one another.  

“Her vision of integrating technical expertise with leadership skills prepared me toface the challenges of large corporations,” wrote INI alum Tyelisa Shields, who graduated with a Master of Science in Information Technology - Information Security in 2010 and contributed a letter of support to Dr. Haritos Tsamitis’s Doherty nomination. “Her mentorship instilled in me the ability to approach challenges with innovation, resilience, and a focus on impactful solutions.”  

Left to right: Diwakar Goel (MSMITE 2010), Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis and Tyelisa Shields (MSIT-IS 2010)

Dr. Haritos Tsamitis’s contributions to Carnegie Mellon span educational paradigms, curriculum development, culture building and dedicated mentorship. These contributions have already been recognized by the university through two important distinctions. In 2012, she received the Barbara Lazarus Award for Graduate Student and Junior Faculty Mentoring; five years later, she was the first recipient of the endowed Barbara Lazarus Professorship in Information Networking.  

In her speech Dr. Haritos Tsamitis acknowledged the hard work of the INI facutly and staff. “I share this honor with the entire INI team — faculty and staff alike — and with everyone who has helped us bring our vision to life," said Dr. Haritos Tsamitis. "What I’m most proud of is the educational environment we’ve built — one that is innovative, inclusive and rooted in community. From expanding our global reach to creating spaces where students feel seen, supported and connected, our work is to shape a meaningful and memorable experience — something they carry with them long after graduation. This award recognizes that work, and I’m truly honored.”