Dhruv Pandya, MS
Adjunct Professor, Information Security
dpandya@callutheran.edu
Zoom/ On Campus
Areas of expertise: Information Security Governance, Risk Management, Security Crisis Management, Privacy
Office Hours: By Appointment
About
Dhruv Pandya is a cybersecurity leader specializing in information security governance, risk management, and cloud security. He currently serves as Director of Information Security at Wistia, where he leads SOC 2 compliance, AI/ML governance, vendor risk, and enterprise security operations. He previously directed cybersecurity programs at J.D. Power, overseeing global Information security function, compliance initiatives, risk management, SOC and security architecture.
Dhruv holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from California State University Channel Islands, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from G.H. Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pune. His professional certifications include CISM, CISA, CIAM and CIPM.
Dhruv brings a pragmatic, business-oriented perspective to cybersecurity, emphasizing the connection between technical decisions, organizational risk, and business strategy. He trains students to evaluate security challenges the way modern security leaders do, grounded in risk, cost, impact, and practical execution. He also advises private venture capital firms on cybersecurity related subjects as an expert.
At California Lutheran University, Dhruv focuses on bridging academic theory with real-world application. His teaching emphasizes hands-on learning, risk-based thinking, and developing security leaders who can operate confidently in modern cloud and AI-driven environments. His academic interests include risk management frameworks, secure AI usage, cloud security, and cybersecurity governance for SaaS organizations.
In addition to his academic work, Dhruv serves on the boards of the Ventura County Leadership Academy and Turning Point Foundation, contributing to regional leadership development and mental health initiatives. He has been recognized as a Pacific Coast Business Times 40 Under 40 honoree and as the 2024 Distinguished Alumni for CSU Channel Islands.
Education
Master’s degree in Computer Science from California State University Channel Islands
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from G.H. Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pune.
His professional certifications include CISM, CISA, CIAM and CIPM.