Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
Ph.D., Technology Management, July 2022
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS
Master of Science, Technology - July 2017
Andhra Loyola College - Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh, India Bachelor of Commerce, Business Administration - May 2009
Dr. Praveen Kumar Guraja is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology in the Department of Applied Computing & Geomatics at the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech). He develops and teaches courses in cybersecurity, IT, and artificial intelligence, and contributes to Oregon Tech’s forward-looking Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program. He also serves as faculty advisor for the TechSec Club, mentoring students in research, competitions, and the Applied Computing Learning Lab.
Before joining Oregon Tech, Dr. Guraja served as Division Chair, Founding Program Coordinator, and Assistant Professor of Information Technology Management at the University of Pikeville (UPIKE), where he launched undergraduate and graduate ITM programs integrating industry micro-credentials with experiential learning. His leadership helped UPIKE’s IT Club earn multiple national awards from the USITCC.
Dr. Guraja’s research focuses on the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics, exploring how AI-driven systems enhance decision-making, strengthen security, and promote inclusion in underrepresented communities. He has published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and international conferences, and collaborated on NSF and NIH-funded projects.
His academic leadership encompasses grant writing, curriculum design, and student mentorship, securing over $50,000 in research and experiential learning funding for students. Dr. Guraja has received numerous honors, including the 2025 Excellence in Research Award, the 2022 Provost Award for Faculty Excellence and Leadership, the 2024 ACA Faculty Fellowship, and induction into Epsilon Pi Tau, the international honor society for professionals in technology.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Guraja actively serves on professional committees and advisory boards with organizations such as AAAI, IEEE, ACM, ATMAE, ASEE, and ISSA, inspiring the next generation of innovators in cybersecurity, IT, and AI.
Dr. Guraja also brings over a decade of industry experience in IT operations and enterprise systems, having served in technical and leadership roles at Pittsburg State University, Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Unisys India Pvt. Ltd., and Genpact India Pvt. Ltd. His professional background in systems administration, database management, and enterprise IT services informs his teaching and applied research.