Countering Persistent Threats in Higher Education
Larry Zacarese, JD, MPA, CCEP, CHSP, CHCM, EMT-P
Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer; Stony Brook University
In this episode, Larry Zacarese discusses building a robust enterprise risk management (ERM) program in higher education. The conversation covers challenges in fostering a risk-aware culture, major threats like deferred maintenance, cyber and reputational risks, and the impact of AI. Larry highlights the importance of internal and external partnerships and shares real-life examples in which proactive risk management mitigated incidents, including a crisis response during a campus flood and a student mental health intervention. The episode emphasizes collaboration and a strategic approach to campus-wide risk.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Larry Zacarese, JD, MPA, CCEP, CHSP, CHCM, EMT-P
Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer; Stony Brook University
Biography
Larry Zacarese is the Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer
(CSO) at Stony Brook University. Larry has more than 30 years of experience in the public and private
sector overseeing and managing multiple complex organizations. He provides executive leadership,
expertise, and strategic guidance to the Stony Brook community on enterprise risk management,
environmental health and safety, emergency management, business continuity, mobility and parking
services, sustainability, crisis communications and public safety.
Larry was instrumental in guarding against and leading the organization through countless critical
incidents and crises, including several hurricanes, infrastructure outages, and the COVID-19 pandemic, just to
name a few. Larry is a nationally recognized speaker, contributing columnist, and subject matter expert
and maintains an adjunct faculty position in the Graduate School of Professional Development at Stony
Brook, where he teaches Crisis Management and Legal Issues in Higher Education.
Larry is a licensed attorney and holds a JD from Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center as well as
an MPA (Inspector General) and a BA in Forensic Psychology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
