Rate My Professor Humayun Zafar

Humayun Zafar is the Chair of the Department of Information Systems and Security and Professor of Information Security and Assurance in the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. He earned his PhD in Business Administration with an emphasis in information technology from The University of Texas at San Antonio, where his doctoral research examined organizational information security strategies. Zafar also holds an MS in information technology from Rochester Institute of Technology and a BS from St. Mary's University. Holding certifications including CEH, CISM, and CRISC, his professional journey began as a computer programmer at Kodak in 2004, when a hacker incident inspired his pivot to cybersecurity research. Since joining Kennesaw State University around 2010 as an associate professor in the Department of Information Systems, he has risen to department chair and serves as Director of the Mobile Application Development Center and director of the college's financial technology programs, contributing to initiatives like the Georgia FinTech Academy.

Zafar's research specializations encompass cybersecurity, fintech, security risk management, information systems security, and related areas such as HRIS security and the financial impacts of breaches. His scholarship includes 36 publications with 474 citations, featuring highly influential works like 'Current state of information security research in IS' (2009, 174 citations), 'Human resource information systems: Information security concerns for organizations' (2013, 160 citations), 'User satisfaction research in information systems: Historical roots and approaches' (2016, 114 citations), 'The value of the CIO in the top management team on performance in the case of information security breaches' (2016, 108 citations), and 'Financial impact of information security breaches on breached firms and their non-breached competitors' (2012, 58 citations). Among his honors are the 2014 Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award in Research and Creative Activity, University Scholar nominations, and Google Community Grants Fund awards. Zafar's expertise has positioned him as a leader in developing talent pipelines for Georgia's fintech industry and advancing cybersecurity education.