Zerek D. Olson

Zerek Olson currently serves as the Governance, Risk, and Information Privacy Officer at UNCW within the ITS Office of Governance, Risk, and Compliance. In this role, he leads the university’s IT Vendor Risk Management program, overseeing third-party assessments with a dedicated team. Zerek also serves as the Data Governance Program Officer, coordinating risk evaluations with UNCW’s Data Stewards to ensure appropriate classification and handling of institutional data. As the Information Privacy Officer, Zerek provides strategic leadership in privacy compliance, guiding the institution’s approach to data protection regulations and best practices. He supports the development of policies and practices that support responsible data use, transparency, and user trust across campus operations. Additionally, Zerek is an ex oficio member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), where he serves as a subject matter expert on data protection and privacy for human subjects research. His expertise supports ethical review processes and the safeguarding of sensitive research data.

Prior to joining UNCW in 2021, Zerek served in the United States Marine Corps as a Legal Operations & Administration Officer.

Education

J.M. in Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Technology Risk Management Law, Florida State University
B.S. in Political Science, United States Naval Academy

Specialization in Teaching

Cybersecurity Ethics, Law, Policy, and Compliance

Professional Service

Institutional Review Board

Honors & Awards

UNCW Research Administration Outstanding Campus Partner - 2025
North Carolina Governor's Award for Excellence Nominee - 2024
UNCW Staff Award for Excellence Nominee - 2024