HOUSTON, TX, October 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mary E. Roberts, MS, PhD (ABD), has been recognized for achievement in information technology.

Ms. Roberts's distinguished career in information technology and cybersecurity spans three decades, marked by leadership roles at some of the world's most recognized organizations and a reputation for expertise in cybersecurity leadership and strategy, forensic investigation, governance, risk and compliance, threat hunting and red team operations, third-party vendor risk management, artificial intelligence security risk, criminal justice and digital forensics. She currently serves as chief information security officer at a confidential global investment firm, a position she has held since 2025. In this capacity, Ms. Roberts is responsible for engaging with third-party vendors to ensure alignment with established security standards, conducting rigorous vendor testing and security assessments, overseeing the organization's cybersecurity awareness training programs focused on phishing and social engineering, and closely monitoring network infrastructure and patching protocols to mitigate risk. Her role also includes managing the firm's exposure to artificial intelligence-related security threats, reflecting her commitment to staying ahead of rapidly evolving technological risks.

Additionally, Ms. Roberts holds the title of vice president of information security at the same firm. Her responsibilities require strict adherence to confidentiality due to the sensitive nature of the high-profile mergers and acquisitions the organization manages. Prior to joining the investment firm, she served as senior director of infrastructure and engineering for cloud and core at Nike in Beaverton from 2023 to 2025. During this period, she also served as director of infrastructure at Nike, where she contributed to the company's global technology initiatives. From 2021 to 2025, Ms. Roberts was director of cybersecurity application security at Nike in Houston, leading efforts to secure applications across the enterprise. She also served as director of application security at Nike from 2021 to 2023.

Her earlier executive experience includes serving as chief technology officer and vice president of product management and chief information security officer at M&M Technology Solutions LLC in Houston from 2019 to 2021. She was also principal consultant for the firm during this time frame. At Cardinal Health in Houston, Ms. Roberts held several senior roles between 2009 and 2021, including senior director engineer and data centers (2019 to 2021), director of product management (2018 to 2019), senior director of enterprise architecture and mergers and acquisitions (2015 to 2018), manager of software development, information systems and SAP ERP implementations (2012 to 2015), and senior director of engineering (2009 to 2019). Earlier still, she was senior SAP enterprise solution architect at Cardinal Health in Dublin from 2009 to 2012.

Among her proudest professional achievements is her transformative work at Cardinal Health developing a robotic medication-dispensing system for Los Angeles County. Recognizing that patients were reliant on a manual paper-based process that often resulted in delayed or missed medications — sometimes with life-threatening consequences — Ms. Roberts designed, implemented the technology for Los Angeles county's pharmaceutical technology infrastructure from the ground up. Where it introduced a robotic dispensing and packaging solution known as central fill, enabling medications to be shipped directly to patients' homes.

The system proved especially consequential for Indigenous residents and others lacking reliable access to pharmacies. The project required six to eight months of intensive effort to navigate technical complexity, address theft concerns at pharmacy locations throughout Los Angeles, and train the robotic system for accuracy. The system remains operational today, providing safety and reliability for vulnerable patient populations.

Before her tenure at Cardinal Health, Ms. Roberts was senior principal solution cybersecurity enterprise architect at VF Corporation in Greensboro from 2007 to 2009. She previously served as director of SAP solution enterprise architecture and solution architect at Monsanto Company in St. Louis from 2004 to 2007. Her early career included work as a solution architect and project manager at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis.

Ms. Roberts's academic journey reflects her lifelong dedication to learning and innovation within her field. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Information Technology with a specialty in cyber forensic investigation at Capella University; she holds ABD (all but dissertation) status while completing her final academic requirements. Her dissertation research focuses on third-party cybersecurity as it pertains to nongovernmental organizations — an area she considers critical given the prevalence of breaches originating from third-party vendors whose vulnerabilities are often overlooked by organizations that rely on them.

She previously earned a Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in information assurance and security, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Police Science, both from American InterContinental University. Ms. Roberts holds a certificate in information technology with an emphasis on information assurance and security from Washington University in St. Louis, as well as a certificate in criminal justice forensics and computer science from Saint Louis University.

Her trajectory into cybersecurity began with her early studies in criminal justice, where she developed an interest in investigative methods before moving into forensic investigation — specifically, collecting, analyzing and preserving evidence according to legal chain-of-custody standards. Recognizing parallels between physical evidence collection and digital data analysis led her to pioneer a custom degree path focused on cyber forensics long before it became widely recognized in academia or industry.

Ms. Roberts credits her father's influence for instilling an unwavering belief in the value of education, as well as kindness, ethical conduct, and hard work — principles she has passed down to her four children, who have each found success by following these ideals.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Ms. Roberts remains actively involved with several professional organizations dedicated to advancing women's representation in technology fields, including Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), Black Girls In Cyber, Influential Women and Women in Technology, where she serves on the board in Houston.

Her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the Influential Women Award (2026) and the STEM Award Partner in Education Award from Alief Independent School District.

Ms. Roberts is also an accomplished author whose memoir "Anything Is Possible: A Single Mother's Journey" chronicles her experience raising four children alone over two decades while building a successful career — offering inspiration for young women seeking guidance on overcoming adversity. She has contributed articles such as "Give Yourself Permission to Pause" to Influential Women, which encourages readers to recognize their limits without guilt or self-judgment; the piece has received considerable positive feedback since its publication. Upon completion, her doctoral dissertation on third-party cybersecurity for nongovernmental organizations is also expected to be published.

Her expertise is frequently sought as an expert witness in legal cases involving digital evidence — drawing directly on her background in forensic science and criminal justice — further distinguishing her among her peers in cybersecurity.

Born in St. Louis, Ms. Roberts is married and has four children; two have followed her into technology, while two have pursued careers in medicine. She is also the grandmother of eleven grandchildren, whom she cherishes deeply, as well as Silver Storm, her Siberian husky.

Outside professional pursuits, Ms. Roberts enjoys camping, made easier by her family's recreational vehicle; reading books across genres; listening to podcasts ranging from technology trends to personal growth topics; spending quality time with loved ones; and cooking — which remains her greatest passion outside work.

Looking ahead, Ms. Roberts intends to transition into academia as a university professor, where she hopes to mentor future generations by teaching nuanced distinctions between artificial intelligence advancements and foundational technological concepts, both within traditional classrooms and online platforms; she is equally committed to outreach efforts aimed at educating high school students about digital literacy.

Throughout every chapter of her life — whether developing pioneering technological solutions or championing diversity within STEM fields — Ms. Roberts has demonstrated that genuine passion transforms work into something profoundly fulfilling while creating lasting impact across communities she serves.

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