Amanda Fennell

Amanda Fennell has been a dedicated Tulane SoPA faculty member since 2020, bringing extensive real-world cybersecurity experience to the classroom. Since 2013, she has instructed courses focused on incident response, digital forensics, and threat intelligence, equipping students with practical skills and knowledge.

In her role as CSO/CIO at Prove, Amanda spearheads the organization's security strategy, overseeing risk management, compliance practices, and the development of robust information technology infrastructure. She is a champion for security best practices and drives the implementation of cutting-edge solutions. Amanda's industry influence extends beyond her current role, as she previously hosted Relativity’s Security Sandbox, a podcast that explored the intersection of diverse topics within the cybersecurity domain. She recently launched her own vCISO & tech consulting company at Fiddlers.tech.

Prior to Prove, Amanda served as the CSO/CIO at Relativity, and as the global head of cyber response and digital forensics at Zurich Insurance Company, managing critical security operations and incident handling. Her career also includes significant tenures at Symantec, Dell SecureWorks, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Guidance Software, where she held various management and consulting positions, contributing to the advancement of cybersecurity practices across diverse sectors.

Amanda holds a Master’s in Forensic Science with a specialization in Digital Forensics: High-Technology Crime Investigation from The George Washington University. Her passion for cybersecurity education and her deep industry expertise make her a valuable asset to the Tulane SoPA community. Her curiosity in recent years led to the additional Master of Library Sciences, Archival Technolgy, and a Culinary Degree. Her appreciation of the role academia plays to our student's lives has also led her into a supporting role as an associate program director of the SoPA Technology Department. She was also awarded the 2025 John Percy Dyer Award and is a current Faculty Fellow.

What is the best advice you've ever received?
"Never run on deck- it makes everyone else nervous."

What are your favorite activities when you are not working?
Exploring new culinary experiences, engaging in thought-provoking discussions, debating recent Dune or Star Wars content, and spending quality time with family.