Announcing the new Vice Chancellor of IT

Dear DU community members,

I am delighted to announce that Russell “Russ” Kaurloto will join the University of Denver as our vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer (VC for IT/CIO) beginning July 1, 2021.

The VC for IT/CIO role reports directly to the chancellor. Russ will also be a member of the chancellor’s cabinet and dean’s council. As VC for IT/CIO, Russ will lead a forward-thinking, service-oriented IT division. He will partner and collaborate with leaders and staff across campus to ensure DU’s IT infrastructure aligns with the goals of the university’s strategic vision. Russ will develop a digital strategy that enhances the learning, teaching, and working experience of the entire DU community. Under his leadership, DU will continue to boast an optimized, integrated and transparent IT organization that champions the university’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Russell Kaurloto

Russ comes to the University of Denver from Clemson University where he has served as vice president and chief information officer since 2017. Previously, Russ served as chief technology officer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and also served as the City of Los Angeles Assistant General Manager for Information Technology. Prior to that, and over the course of 15 years, Russ served in various leadership roles at the University of Southern California, including as deputy chief information officer and chief operating officer.

Russ is a graduate from California Lutheran University with a Bachelor’s in organizational leadership. He holds a technical certificate from Lincoln Institute of Technology in computer technology and programming. He also holds a first-class FCC license.

“I’m looking forward and excited to be joining the leadership team at the University of Denver,” says Russ. “It was clear to me from the start that DU is truly a special place. This role offers a unique opportunity to build upon DU’s Strategic Imperatives to increase research and enhance the student experience through technology-enabled transformation. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Russ brings to the University of Denver a unique set of skills, experience and expertise built in higher education, government and healthcare. He understands intimately the leadership necessary for effective IT systems in large and complex ecosystems and has experience supporting faculty research through a top-five in the nation high-performance computing system. Russ also has experience ensuring cyber security through policy and implementation. His expertise involves providing IT solutions in cloud computing, mobility,

business analytics, big data, enterprise-wide application development and systems integrations. Russ has proven success in not only strategic implementation, but also with building relationships across disciplines as well as elevating customer service outcomes. As DU’s VC for IT/CIO, Russ will turn his attention to developing integrated analytics and enhancing a well-defined governance structure to ensure best practices are implemented university wide.

As we welcome Russ, the University gives a special thanks to Gary Starling who has ably served as interim vice chancellor and chief information offer since this past fall. Especially during a time when the DU community has relied so heavily upon our technology to work, learn and connect, we are grateful to Gary and the entire IT team for their commitment and excellence.

And thank you again to our search committee:

Co-chairs:

· Rohini Ananthakrishnan, assistant vice chancellor of information technology

· Kate Willink, vice provost for faculty affairs

Committee members:

• Cathey Barbee, assistant vice chancellor of advancement

• Deb DeHaas, trustee

• Rafael Fajardo, associate professor in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Johnny Kim, associate Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work

• Bobbie Kite, assistant dean in University College

• Jerron Lowe, interim vice chancellor of human resources

• Katia Miller, analyst in the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis

• Haluk Ogmen, interim dean of the Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science

• Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor of enrollment

• Shelly Smith-Acuña, dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology

I want to recognize the committee’s outstanding work and commitment towards DEI in process and practice. This inclusive search yielded multiple finalists from underrepresented groups within the IT industry.

Finally, thank you to the individuals and groups who met with and interviewed Russ and the other candidates. Your insights were deeply valuable as we made this decision.

We are thrilled to welcome Russ to DU. He will be joined by his wife, Susan, and their youngest son, Connor. They enjoy the outdoors—running, biking, hiking and skiing—and look forward to getting involved in community outreach programs. Please join me in congratulating Russ and welcoming him and his family to Denver this summer.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Haefner

Chancellor