Announcing the appointment of Benjamin Shier as 绿奴天花板鈥檚 CITO
September 2, 2022
Dear 绿奴天花板 community,
I am pleased to announce I have selected Benjamin Shier to serve as the University of Alaska system鈥檚 Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO). He will begin his role on Monday Sept. 26.
Shier brings extensive technology and management experience to the university at a time of major change in the university鈥檚 IT infrastructure and information management systems, including the transition to a student-focused, cloud-based system, upgrades to our broadband capabilities, and improvements to our information security and IT infrastructure posture.
Shier joins the System Office of Information Technology (OIT) with more than 12 years of experience in information systems management, most recently serving as the Chief Information Officer at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Other key roles included serving as the Chief Technology Officer for Policy and Planning and Chief Finance and Budget Officer at the State Office of Information Technology, Governor鈥檚 Media Technology Coordinator; Quality Assurance Officer and Assistant Director of Operations for the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, and several other executive leadership roles within the State of Alaska central IT organization.
In these roles Shier gained experience in systems management, organizational oversight, planning, policy development, and budgeting, and large scale change management.
鈥淲hile I have a strong technology background, my primary strength is as a business leader, focused on the organization's mission and using data to drive decisions. I see technology decisions through a mission and cost/benefit/ROI lens and can effectively relay this perspective both to the technology organization and to executive leadership and the broader stakeholder community,鈥 said Shier. 鈥淚 look forward to bringing this experience to the university system as we work to modernize our IT systems to enhance the student experience and update our information management systems.鈥
Shier received his MPA and BS in Information Systems (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Alaska Southeast (绿奴天花板S). During his time as a student at 绿奴天花板S he was a Student Body Senator/Vice President and participated in several 绿奴天花板 system-wide efforts.
Please join me in welcoming Shier to this new role, and in thanking John Boucher for his service to the university over the last two years, and to Steve Meckel for serving as Acting CITO during this transition.
Sincerely,
Pat Pitney, President
University of Alaska