Interim Director

Dr. Ahmad Patooghy

Associate Professor and Interim Director of the Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Research, Education, and Outreach (CREO) at North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Patooghy's research spans multiple areas of cybersecurity, including cyber-physical systems and IoT, trustworthy AI, network security, resilient computing systems, and critical infrastructure security. He has led more than $7 million in federally funded cybersecurity projects, supported by agencies such as the NSF, NIH, AFRL, the U.S. Department of the Navy, and Sandia National Laboratories. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed research articles and is a Senior Member of IEEE.

Program Manager

Caitlin Reavis

Caitlin Reavis is a results-driven project manager with over a decade of experience leading complex initiatives across industry, higher education, and research. Since joining CREO at NC A&T in 2020, she has overseen operations and strategic execution across a nationally relevant cybersecurity portfolio. Her responsibilities include managing project lifecycles, budgets, contracts and grants, compliance, and coordination across more than 25 AI- and cybersecurity-focused labs and initiatives.

Digital Communicator

Fatemeh Sarafraz

Fatemeh Sarafraz is a Digital Communicator at CREO at North Carolina A&T State University. She supports undergraduate training and engagement through strategic media, visual storytelling, and digital communication. Fatemeh documents academic and research activities by producing photography and digital content that highlight student projects, hands-on learning experiences, and CREO initiatives.