UIC Hosts Inaugural Cybersecurity & Privacy Community Conference

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from UIC’s Chief Information Security and Privacy Officer, Shefali Mookencherry, who set the tone for a day focused on collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility in cybersecurity and privacy. She emphasized the importance of staying ahead of emerging threats while fostering a culture of awareness and accountability across campus.

Throughout the event, panels and presentations provided attendees with practical insights and actionable strategies to strengthen cybersecurity, protect privacy, and navigate the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily work, both at UIC and beyond.

The State of Privacy presentation, by Pegah Parsi, Chief Privacy Officer at the University of California, San Diego, explored how rapid technological advancements (particularly in AI) are reshaping expectations for data protection and privacy, especially in higher education. 

Parsi highlighted the growing wave of activity in privacy and AI-related litigation, noting that courts are increasingly open to privacy claims, including those involving colleges and universities. As regulatory requirements evolve, she emphasized that compliance alone is no longer sufficient; organizations must also prioritize ethical considerations in how data is collected, used, and protected. 

The session emphasized the importance of strong governance practices, recommending that institutions consider dedicated privacy leadership and embed established privacy principles, such as those outlined by UC San Diego, into projects from the outset. Attendees were reminded that privacy expectations are rising across communities, even in areas where formal regulations may not yet exist. 

A key takeaway: privacy is no longer a niche concern; it is a critical, visible priority. Institutions must take a proactive, values-driven approach to responsibly manage personal and institutional data in an increasingly complex digital landscape. 

The Cybersecurity & Privacy Litigation Panel offered a closer look at what happens after a cyber incident occurs. Blair Dawson, Attorney at McDonald Hopkins, Sofia Valdivia, Associate, Amundsen Davis Law, Amy Kabaria, Attorney & Founding Member of Chicago Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) Jennifer S. Stegmaier, Partner, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP discussed how data breaches and cyberattacks can lead to legal and regulatory action. 

Speakers highlighted liability considerations, enforcement trends, and the evolving legal landscape. The session emphasized the importance of proactive risk management and compliance in today’s environment.  

Tips shared included documenting everything, having an incident response plan in place and testing it, engaging legal counsel early, staying current on evolving regulations, and communicating carefully.

A key insight from the panel: preparation is critical. Organizations that take a proactive, well-documented, and legally informed approach are far better positioned to navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape following a cyber incident. 

As AI adoption continues to grow, the Best Practices for Accountable & Responsible Use of AI Panel with Jeremy Riel, Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, Director, TRAILblazer Lab, Alvin Chin, Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, Instructor, Department of Information and Decision Sciences, UIC Business, and David Chestek, D.O., Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, and Chief Medical Information Officer, UI Health focused on helping attendees navigate its ethical and practical implications.  

Panelists shared guidance on protecting sensitive data, recognizing and mitigating bias, and maintaining transparency when using AI tools. The session reinforced the importance of using AI thoughtfully and responsibly across the university.  

Actionable takeaways included: protect sensitive data by avoiding the use of confidential or regulated information in public or unapproved AI tools; evaluate outputs critically to identify potential bias, inaccuracies, or unintended consequences; and be transparent in AI use by clearly disclosing when and how AI is used in academic, clinical, or administrative work. 

The conference concluded with remarks from Robert Herjavec, a globally recognized entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert, and Emmy Award-winning executive producer and lead investor on Shark Tank. Drawing from his experience in cybersecurity and entrepreneurship, Herjavec shared insights on navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. 

Herjavec emphasized the importance of vigilance, adaptability, and collaboration in responding to evolving cyber threats. He noted that while the future is already here, it is not evenly distributed, and reminded attendees that more data does not always translate into better information or clearer decision-making. What is critical for organizations is having strong governance, along with effective, ethical, and secure practices. 

Through personal anecdotes, he also offered practical entrepreneurial advice, reminding attendees to pitch ideas to people invested in the outcome rather than relying solely on feedback from family and friends. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to our sponsors and vendor hall exhibitors who contributed to the success of the event.