Dr. Charles DeSassure is a nationally recognized leader in computer science and cybersecurity. He is a distinguished higher education administrator at the community college level, with over 25 years of experience and service as dean in Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas.  He currently serves as the Dean of Technology at Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT), a public, two-year technical college in Beaumont, Texas, focused on providing career-ready education and part of the Texas State University System.

He is a founding faculty member of the Cybersecurity Program at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas, where he helped establish one of the region’s premier training pipelines. His leadership also enabled Rose State College in Midwest City to become the first community college in Oklahoma to offer a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity—an achievement that expanded access to advanced technical education across the state. Additionally, Dr. DeSassure contributed to the development of an accelerated three-year bachelor’s degree in computer science at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, underscoring his commitment to innovative academic programming and student success.

Dr. DeSassure earned a doctorate in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Colorado Technical University. He holds a master’s degree in Information and Resource Management from Webster University, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Management) from Claflin University, and an associate degree in Computer Technology from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. In addition, he earned a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has also completed prestigious professional development programs, including Harvard University’s Management Development Program, Stanford University’s Advanced Computer Security Program, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Project-Based Learning Institute Program, among others. Dr. DeSassure is a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP). His career began with three years as a public-school teacher in South Carolina, laying the foundation for his lifelong commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Before transitioning to education, Dr. DeSassure spent ten years in the private sector as an IT professional, holding key roles such as MIS Manager, Systems Analyst, LAN Administrator, and Programmer—experience that continues to shape his industry-focused approach to teaching and leadership.