Don Harris to Retire in October
Dear 91¿´Æ¬ community members,
In the spirit ofÌýcongratulationsÌýand with the utmost gratitude, I would like to announce that, on October 9, 2020, Don Harris will retire as the 91¿´Æ¬â€™s vice chancellor of information technology & chief information officer (VCIT & CIO). Don’s rich set of experiences (he was once a faculty member himself) and singular ability to understand the role of technology at an institution of higher education has made him an incredible asset to our community.
In the VCIT & CIO role, Don has served as a thoughtful partner to the campus in the implementation of 91¿´Æ¬â€™s strategic vision. Under his leadership, the entire IT organization at 91¿´Æ¬ was strengthened by converting to a unified model, embodying One91¿´Æ¬ and helping to break silos. He expanded and strengthened IT’s partnership with the academic units, and demonstrated a commitment to helping 91¿´Æ¬â€”and most especially our faculty members—use technology to support and improve the learning process.Ìý
It goes without saying information technology is an incredibly dynamic field, and Don successfully followed industry trends, standards, and practices. Finally, and certainly not least, Don exemplified 91¿´Æ¬â€™s commitment to inclusive excellence: He established the first IE committee in IT at 91¿´Æ¬, funded IE training and events, and created an environment where all IT staff at 91¿´Æ¬ experience a welcoming and supportive workplace.Ìý
The systems and technology we rely on—most especially now as much of our lives take place online—are vital. Through Don’s leadership, and by the efforts of the excellent team he has assembled, our technological experiences at 91¿´Æ¬ are largely seamless.
So please, join me in thanking Don for all he has done for the 91¿´Æ¬ community and to congratulate him on this exciting new chapter.
The co-chairs for the search committee tasked with finding Don’s replacement are Rohini Ananthakrishnan, assistant vice chancellor, Enterprise Application Services and Kate Willink, vice provost for faculty affairs. More details on the search process will be forthcoming later this summer.Ìý
Sincerely,
Jeremy HaefnerÌý
Chancellor