Information Technology Services (ITS) will implement several organizational and reporting changes on Aug. 1 to better align its work with university priorities, support emerging opportunities, and strengthen service to campus.
The updates include the creation of a new Strategy and Innovation department, changes in leadership responsibilities, and continued alignment of key support functions with central university units. Together, the changes are intended to help ITS remain agile, collaborative, and prepared to meet the evolving needs of the university
New Strategy and Innovation department
ITS is establishing a new department, Strategy and Innovation, focused on strategic planning, emerging technologies, process improvement, change management, and project management. The department will support a more coordinated and forward-looking approach to organizational priorities, including the implementation and optimization of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Katie Kahler will lead the new department as senior director. The IT Project Management Office and AI Support Team will report to Kahler, who will also continue her chief of staff responsibilities with administrative support from Marianne Holton and Sara Allen.
Leadership updates support collaboration and service
Tim Evans, executive director of the Office of the CIO, will take on leadership of Partnerships and Collaboration. In this role, Evans will help strengthen connections across OneIT and continue working closely with distributed IT teams in colleges and administrative units. He will also continue leading finance and budget activities for ITS.
The Custom Solutions and Integrations team will move under Ed Hill, executive director of ITS Administrative Information Systems. Hill also is being promoted to deputy CIO.
Communications and HR remain closely connected to ITS priorities
The ITS Communications and Human Resources teams now report to their respective central university units, with Julie Cunningham, senior HR director, and Nicole Dahya, strategic communication director, maintaining secondary reporting relationships to Brad Rohrer, associate vice president and chief information officer. This structure is designed to keep these functions closely connected to ITS priorities while aligning with broader university practices and expertise.
Updated organizational charts will be posted on the ITS website. The changes reflect ITS’ ongoing commitment to evolving as an organization so it can serve the university with focus, efficiency, creativity, and strong partnership across OneIT.