No phishing: Kathleen Boyle lead UA’s online safety and security

Just because Kathleen Boyle is kind-hearted and loves animals doesn’t mean she is a pushover.

As UA’s Interim Chief Information Security Officer for the Office of Information Technology, she leads a team of professionals that aggressively protects the university from harmful phishing attempts and other attacks.

I have had many wonderful opportunities working for the university, but what I appreciate most are the people that I have worked with over the years and their dedication and commitment to the university and its students,” said Boyle. 

Boyle leads the university’s information security program. Earlier this year, her team at OIT Security Administration was named 2018 Outstanding University of Alaska Statewide Department.

Boyle started her UA career in March 2002 at UAF’s Geophysical Institute and moved to OIT Security in October 2006.

“I started in IT later in my working career, and credit CTC’s Information Technology program for preparing me to make that change” said Boyle. “I have held a number of positions in IT and found myself gravitating to Information Security. I began working for the university in 2002 at the Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF).  The experiences I gained at ASF were invaluable and helped prepare me for the new responsibilities I took on when I transferred to OIT Security.”

Boyle was born in Newport, R.I. and grew up on the East Coast.  She finished high school in the Northern Virginia area and attended college at the University of Virginia and the Catholic University of America.  After graduating from college, she made Washington D.C her home before finally following her brothers to Alaska. 

Boyle and her husband, David, have a family of rescue dogs and a cat adopted from Pet Pride as a kitten. 

“Raised with the pups, Dulci thinks she is a member of the pack,” said Boyle. “If only the pups thought so too.” 

Boyle serves on the board of the Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association (ASPA) and volunteers with the Literacy Council of Alaska as an English Language Learning tutor for adults. Her newest hobby is knitting and she said she has always loved to curl up with a good book. She also daydreams about raising Yaks.