As we approach the one-year mark of living during a pandemic here in Michigan, I want to acknowledge each one of you not only for your contributions to the university, but also for your amazing strength in doing this through an uncertain and challenging time in our history.
Over the past year, we have learned incredibly valuable lessons about each other, working remotely, and the people who make up this amazing institution.
This past year has called for extraordinary leadership, dedication, can-do attitude, trusting each other, supporting each other, serving our community, and working together. Each one of YOU exhibited these amazing attributes and more.
Our community will come together virtually next week for the Michigan IT Symposium, which is an excellent opportunity to hear and learn from so many of our IT colleagues.
As we settle into this hybrid semester and continue to find new ways of collaborating with each other to serve our hardworking community, two important technology topics have remained at the top of my mind: security and accessibility.
Over the summer, I saw countless examples of how the Michigan IT community banded together with a single purpose across units and campuses to act with urgency. I encourage you to keep that inspiring momentum into the academic year.
The innovative and creative spirit of the Michigan IT community flourished over the summer. As our plans for the hybrid semester come together, we continue to find innovative ways to support a world-class Michigan educational experience.
Our community is experiencing extreme challenges, and our Black sisters and brothers are dealing with centuries of racism and hurt that are playing out before our very eyes. I know all of us feel angry, hurt, scared, and tired of reading and watching these types of horrific events repeat every day. These acts underscore the importance of our efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of life. It challenges me and all of us to do what is right, and not to wait to make changes.
Our world is better because of each one of our amazing students, and my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported them throughout their U-M experience.
Moving so much of the institution online in a matter of days was no small task. There are many examples of how Michigan IT offered assistance and compassion during these unprecedented times.
In the year since I introduced ITS’s five areas of focus, we’ve refined and made progress towards our goals—thanks to partnerships with many of you.
In 2020, we’ll feature a wider variety of leadership messages from across the Michigan IT community. This month, CIO of LSA and Michigan IT Steering Committee Chair Cathy Curley shares her perspective on the value of partnership and what’s next for the Michigan IT program.
Our best is yet to come, and I have no doubt that working together as a community and supporting each other, we will make the U-M the leader in the appropriate use of technology among our peers and in the world.
It is an amazing time to be at the University of Michigan, with an abundance of opportunities to support and participate in important work at a local, national, and global scale.
The month of October presents us with regular opportunities to participate in activities that broaden our perspectives and contribute to the greater good. Leveraging diverse ideas and seeing a teacher in everyone is the secret to success, in my opinion.
Working as one Michigan IT community, we have accomplished a lot during the past year, and I know our best is yet to come. I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead!
In just a couple weeks, I will be celebrating my first full year as your VPIT-CIO. It is a pleasure to be part of the vibrant Michigan IT community and I look forward to the year ahead.
The goal to “improve the way we serve the U-M campus by providing proactive, laser-focused customer service” truly boils down to working with our customers to understand and help achieve their goals, and to tackle projects and problems with their needs in mind.
Our work in technology connects countless alumni, faculty, students, and staff studying, researching, and working abroad and at home. Working together as a Michigan IT community, we support the technology that fuels the U-M mission and Michigan spirit.
The core mission of the university—accomplished through teaching and learning, scientific publications, study of humanities, and more—is supported and enhanced by technology. Innovation by IT staff members is critical to the university’s mission of creating new knowledge, sharing knowledge, and archiving knowledge.