What inspired you to begin your career in information technology at Iowa? 

I started in a research lab led by Dr. King Liu, writing software for collecting data on the spine. I also worked on an automated license plate reader for Dr. H.K. Huang—very advanced technology for 1980. I then spent 10 years working in the Cardiovascular Image Process Laboratory. In both labs, the computers were primarily Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8s, PDP-11s and Vax Systems. The last couple years we transitioned to a Unix-based platform.  

Computers weren't networked then. We had to move data by carrying nine-track magnetic tapes between the College of Engineering and the Medical Research Center. I complained enough that then-CIO Bill Decker asked me to help build a campuswide network. I started my life in IT as a project manager for the Campus Communication Utility Project just before Information Technology Services was formed 30 years ago. 

 Which technological advancements had the most significant impact on the university community? 

When I started, most computers were large devices. They were isolated—remember, this was before the internet. When we got a connection to mail gateway, we were amazed that an email could be delivered overnight. Computer rooms had glass walls and system administrators wore white lab coats. As a college student, I thought that was cool and wanted to learn more about it.  

Obviously, a lot has changed. The introduction of the mini-computer, the personal computer, the internet, mobile devices, cloud computing, cybersecurity, high-performance computing, and the latest disruptor, AI. All have had a significant impact on the university. 

Looking back at your 40 years here, what are you most proud of? 

I’m proud of authoring or co-authoring about 100 publications early in my career, as well as the work I did to establish the campus network. I’m proud of creating a department focused on research computing, of growing the IT security department to protect the university from evolving cybersecurity threats, and of the development of our student-information system, MAUI (Made at the University of Iowa), as well as our workflow systems. 

I’m proud of moving IT from a back-office function to a trusted partner that’s involved in nearly everything at the university, from strategic initiatives to daily operations. IT not only provides the utility types of IT infrastructure but also sits side-by-side with our partners to innovate and help the university. 

I also very proud of how much we collaborate on and beyond campus. We were founding members of the Unizin consortium, which expanded learning analytics capabilities and has saved students millions of dollars through digital textbooks. We brought together competing national research and education networks to establish Internet2, led creation of the BOREAS regional optical network, and enabled the state, Iowa Communications Network, and state universities to share internet traffic. We brought central and distributed units together as OneIT to improve efficiency and service delivery, and we work closely with Health Care Information Systems to leverage scale and provide seamless IT services.  

Is there a particular moment or accomplishment that stands out above the rest? 

The biggest thing for me is how the IT community has come together over the years. They pull together and respond in incredible ways to help the university through crisis situations—the flood of 2008, the pandemic of 2020, the derecho. But they also pull together to work through issues on a daily basis. 

What are your plans for retirement? 

I don't have any right now. I'm usually a planner, but because this is going to be such a big change, I want to get there and experience it for a bit. Then, I'll plan. I do hope to spend more time on my bike and exploring photography. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

I'm passionate about the University of Iowa, the research discoveries we make, and the impact we have on our students’ lives. I'm equally passionate about the role IT plays in making that happen. But the thing I'm most passionate about is how we work together. The progress we've made wouldn't happen without the IT community and that will be the foundation of all the great things that are coming next.