Dr. Suvineetha Herath

Biography

Dr. Suvineetha Herath is an Associate Professor of Information and Communication Technology at Carl Sandburg College. She holds a Ph.D. in Cyber Defense from Dakota State University. Her multidisciplinary background spans information technology, cybersecurity, information assurance, law, and policy studies, with experience in undergraduate and graduate teaching, student mentoring, and curriculum development.

Teaching Philosophy / Personal Statement

My teaching philosophy centers on student success, lifelong learning, and developing independent thinkers and problem-solvers. I believe education should not only provide students with knowledge and technical skills but also encourage creativity, critical thinking, and the confidence to pursue their academic and professional goals.

I view the classroom as an interactive learning environment where students actively participate in their education. My teaching approach emphasizes experiential learning through hands-on activities, real-world applications, collaborative projects, and problem-solving exercises. I adapt my instructional methods to accommodate students with diverse educational backgrounds, experiences, and learning needs.

One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is watching students develop confidence in their abilities, overcome challenges, and apply what they have learned. My goal is to inspire students to become lifelong learners who continue to grow professionally and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Degrees Earned and Professional Qualifications

• Ph. D. in Cyber Defense — Dakota State University, USA
• Ph. D. in Biological Production — Gifu University, Japan
• M.Sc. in Information Assurance — St. Cloud State University, USA
• M.S. in Agriculture (Land Use Policy) — Gifu University, Japan
• LLB. (Bachelor of Laws) — University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Attorney-at-Law — Sri Lanka Law College, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Selected Publications

1. Gelman, H., Hastings, J. D., Herath, S., & Covert, Q. (2026). Workplace surveillance and insider threat risk management: Legal limits and privacy harms. IEEE CARS 2026 (conference manuscript; publication status to be confirmed).
2. Herath, S., Herath, K., Gelman, J., Hastings, J., & Wang, Y. (2024). Safeguarding virtual healthcare: An attack-centric model for data security and privacy. Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Computer Applications (ICCA).
3. Herath, S., Gelman, J., & McKee, A. (2023). Privacy harm and non-compliance from a legal perspective. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice, 2023(2).
4. Herath, S., Herath, A., et al. (2013). A project-based CS-1 course with an active learning environment. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 4(3), 31–37.
5. Herath, A., Herath, S., et al. (2007). Designing computer forensics courses using case studies to enhance computer security curricula. Journal for Computing Sciences in Colleges, 23(1), 264–271.
6. Herath, A., Herath, S., et al. (2007). Intrusion detection using the chi-square goodness-of-fit test to enhance information assurance network and software security curricula. Journal for Computing Sciences in Colleges, 23(1), 255–263.

Awards and Recognition

• “IMPACT and INSPIRE” Award — Carl Sandburg College Women of Character (2026)
• NISOD Excellence Award — Carl Sandburg College (2019)