ESD Welcomes Cybersecurity Leader Devi Nair '12 for Spring Dedman Lecture Series
April 9, 2025
This spring, The Episcopal School of Dallas proudly welcomed alumna Devi Nair ’12 as the featured speaker for the Robert H. Dedman Lecture Series. A standout graduate of both ESD and Harvard University, Nair now serves in a critical leadership role in cybersecurity as an Advisor to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Addressing members of the Class of 2026, Nair shared her powerful journey from ESD classrooms to the frontlines of national security—and the principles that have guided her along the way.
The Robert H. Dedman Lecture Series was endowed in 2002 by the Dedman Foundation through the Communities Foundation of Texas. Robert Dedman, grandfather of alumni Jonathan Dietz ’03, Christina Dietz ’09, and Jeffrey Dietz ’14, was the inaugural speaker, and the series continues to honor his memory. Focusing on leadership and service, this lecture series brings leaders to campus twice yearly, offers students firsthand experience in varying professions, and demonstrates the paths our speakers have taken to positions of influence in their chosen fields. ESD students engage directly with changemakers through this program, exploring the real-world applications of courage, vision, and purpose.
Nair’s message was timely and empowering, anchored by three key takeaways:
- Be ESD Confident – A new phrase coined by Nair, this idea speaks to the unique foundation ESD provides: confidence rooted in character, competence, and community. It’s a call for students to trust in the preparation they receive here and to lead boldly with integrity.
- Make the Plan, Then Pivot – Drawing from her career in cybersecurity, Nair underscored the value of adaptability. She encouraged students to dream big and set goals but to remain open to change and challenge—qualities essential for leadership in a dynamic world.
- Prioritize “Purpose” – For Nair, success is more than achievement; it’s impact. She urged students to seek work that aligns with their values and serves the greater good, echoing ESD’s mission to ignite lives of purpose.
Nair also spoke to Adam Walsh’s AP classes during her time on campus. Walsh is the ESDistinction Leadership, Government, and Public Policy Curriculum Network Leader, charged with bringing real-world connections into the classroom.
As the school looks ahead to future installments of the Dedman Lecture Series, Nair’s words—and especially her phrase “ESD Confident”—may well become a defining expression of the ESD graduate. Her story exemplifies what it means to carry forward an education rooted in faith, excellence, and purpose.
