Kai Two Feathers Orton, PhD
Aurora,CO
Summary
Forward-thinking cybersecurity leader positioned for CISO roles, with a proven record of building resilient information security programs at the intersection of industry, nonprofit, academia, and government. Known for aligning InfoSec strategies with business objectives in high-stakes, high-threat environments—balancing regulatory compliance, operational risk, and user behavior. Armed with current security certifications and a deep understanding of governance, I design and lead agile, data-driven frameworks that enable enterprise resilience and rapid response to evolving threats. Recognized for cultivating high-performance security teams, mentoring talent, and advising executive leadership on risk posture, incident response, and long-term cybersecurity investments.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Data Science and Data Governance
ANITAB.ORG
Denver, USA
06.2023 - Current
- Orchestrated enterprise-wide data governance and compliance strategies to ensure regulatory adherence.
- Developed key performance indicators (KPIs) and real-time management reporting to enhance compliance oversight.
- Designed frameworks that elevated data governance and amplified operational transparency.
- Streamlined third-party due diligence programs and policy implementation to protect organizational integrity.
Inaugural Fellow in Residence
ANITAB.ORG
Denver, USA
08.2021 - 06.2023
- Architected data-driven strategies for Philanthropy Department, integrating complex datasets and enhancing compliance measures.
- Directed enterprise-wide analytics initiatives, leveraging insights to guide regulatory action plans and support informed decision-making.
- Designed agile frameworks for real-time data analytics to improve compliance and performance tracking, embedding automated reporting solutions.
- Developed enterprise-scale pseudo-CRM system, consolidating donor records to optimize engagement and streamline grant acquisitions.
- Championed NSF-funded RAPID initiative as principal investigator, overseeing research milestones and fostering inter-organizational collaboration for computing equity advancements.
Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
Hanover, USA
11.2018 - 07.2021
- Facilitated partnerships between Dartmouth’s research community and industry leaders, fueling collaborations to advance scientific innovation, research funding, and institutional outreach while integrating corporate interests with academic initiatives.
- Designed multi-faceted industry engagement strategies, forging partnerships with key corporations and foundations to elevate Dartmouth’s Call to Lead campaign, spearhead high-profile research collaborations, and expand institutional funding streams for long-term innovation.
- Established transformative cross-sector alliances, securing funding for research initiatives, launching career development programs, and positioning Dartmouth as a strategic partner for industry-driven innovation.
Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
Hanover, USA
06.2017 - 11.2018
- Managed portfolio of over 30 corporate and foundation partners to align philanthropic investments with Dartmouth’s research priorities.
- Led funding initiatives by identifying opportunities, developing grant proposals, and establishing collaborations with faculty and industry leaders.
- Cultivated a dynamic research ecosystem by connecting cross-disciplinary faculty teams and expanding institutional initiatives.
- Drove collaborations that enhanced Dartmouth’s reputation in scientific discovery and community impact.
Research Assistant Professor
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Evanston, USA
01.2013 - 06.2017
- Pioneered research in data science and artificial intelligence to develop educational tools and methodologies.
- Applied advanced analytics to enhance project-based learning and curriculum development strategies.
- Developed biotechnology-driven STEM curriculum, equipping educators and students with industry-relevant skills.
- Secured corporate sponsorships to broaden accessibility and scale national impact of programs.
Postdoctoral Fellow
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Evanston, USA
12.2011 - 01.2013
- Directed independent and collaborative research projects, integrating computational and bench methods to explore reproductive gene regulation, tissue engineering, and reproductive pathogenesis while co-authoring 2 grant proposals to secure funding for innovative discoveries.
Education
Executive Education Certificate - Business For Scientists And Engineers
Kellogg School of Management- Northwestern Univ
Evanston, ILPh.D. - Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Computational Biology
Northwestern University
Evanston, ILBachelor of Science - Biochemistry and Psychology
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, MASkills
- Regulatory compliance and risk management
- Information security governance
- Program development
- Privacy and data protection
- Compliance audits and controls
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Technology risk advisory
- Policy implementation
- Vendor compliance
- Ethics enforcement
- Compliance monitoring
- Stakeholder collaboration
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT & TECHNICAL TOOLSET
- Spearheaded organization-wide change management initiatives to support adoption of new data governance frameworks, privacy programs, and compliance standards.
- Advanced user of Jira and Confluence for agile sprint planning, issue tracking, and cross-functional team collaboration.
- Developed structured change control processes to ensure secure, auditable implementation of enterprise data and security policies.
- Introduced workflow automation tools (e.g., Zapier, Airtable, Google Workspace) to streamline data collection, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
- Experienced in remote-first team enablement using platforms like Slack, Zoom, and Asana to maintain alignment, velocity, and accountability across distributed teams.
- Facilitated retrospectives, stakeholder feedback loops, and post-implementation reviews to drive continuous improvement in security and data operations.
Certification
- HIPAA, Security, and Privacy, CITI Program
- Implementing the NIST Privacy Framework, LinkedIn
- Implementing the NIST Risk Management Framework, LinkedIn
- ISO 27001:2013-Compliant Cybersecurity: Getting Started, LinkedIn
- Global Data Stewardship, LinkedIn
- Cybersecurity Careers: Become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), LinkedIn
- Practical Privacy and Compliance for Small Companies, LinkedIn
Timeline
Head of Data Science and Data Governance
ANITAB.ORG
06.2023 - Current
Inaugural Fellow in Residence
ANITAB.ORG
08.2021 - 06.2023
Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
11.2018 - 07.2021
Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
06.2017 - 11.2018
Research Assistant Professor
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
01.2013 - 06.2017
Postdoctoral Fellow
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
12.2011 - 01.2013
Executive Education Certificate - Business For Scientists And Engineers
Kellogg School of Management- Northwestern Univ
Ph.D. - Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Computational Biology
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry and Psychology
University of Massachusetts Boston
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