William J. Tolley

I am an Assistant Professor of Mathematics & Computer Science at Hampden-Sydney College and co-founder and president of Breakpointing Bad, a nonprofit supporting security research and technical education. I hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

My research examines network security, privacy, censorship, and surveillance. I investigate how encrypted communication systems fail in practice, and how the design of applications, operating systems, and networks shapes who can observe, control, or interfere with communication.

I teach computer science as a liberal art: understanding how systems work is inseparable from examining their purposes and consequences. Through programming, experimentation, and research, I help students develop the technical depth and independent judgment to test claims, question assumptions, and outgrow the tools they first learn to use.