Behind the Plan - Boldly IT

Gathering input

In the fall of 2024, the IT strategic planning team completed 18 focus groups, surveyed 1,050 IT professionals and power users, completed institutional reviews of peer universities and interviewed peer chief information officers. The feedback from these methods were analyzed to identify themes and trends that informed the development of the six priorities that make up Boldly IT. The priorities were also informed by the recommendations from four BTAA CIO peers as part of a formal IT Academic Program Review.

IT strategic planning teams

Throughout the planning effort the core, support and advisory teams played a pivotal role, bringing together a diverse array of perspectives that drive innovation and foster resilience. Emphasizing collaboration and actively seeking community input, these teams harness the collective wisdom of the Illinois, higher education and IT communities, ensuring that the strategic plan is not only robust and forward-thinking, but also deeply rooted in the shared values and aspirations of the community.

Core team

Gathered essential information, guided the development of the plan and oversaw its build.

Laura Herriott – associate director for research consulting, National Center for Supercomputing Applications.
Jim Hurst – chief administrative officer, Office of the CIO.
Ryan Ladd – associate director of IT strategic planning and portfolio management, Office of the CIO.
Tracy Smith – deputy CIO of innovation and technology strategy, Office of the CIO.
Candice Solomon-Strutz – director of IT services, College of Applied Health Sciences.
Mary Stevens – technology architect, Office of the CIO.

Support team

Provided day-to-day operations including project management, facilitation, business analysis and communications.

Troy Gagne – associate director of strategic business analysis, Office of the CIO.
Ginger Hundgen – lead business process improvement analyst, Office of the CIO.
Stephen Kemp – assistant director of organizational consulting, Strategic Project Management Office.
Todd Nelson – manager of IT project management, Office of the CIO.
Jyotika Sirohi – lead strategic program manager, Office of the CIO.
Jennifer Sturner – assistant director of IT Enterprise Service Management Office, Office of the CIO.
Rob Watson – assistant director of communications and marketing, Office of the CIO.

Advisory team

Comprised of IT and higher educations professionals, both within and outside the university, provided critical input in their areas of expertise.

Joe Barnes – chief digital risk officer, Digital Risk Office. University of Illinois System
Michel Bellini – associate professor, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and director, Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning. Illinois
Kelly Block – senior associate vice president and CIO, Administrative Information Technology Services. University of Illinois System
Lois Brooks – vice provost and CIO. University of Wisconsin-Madison
Amy Clay – teaching assistant professor and Faculty IT Senate member, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Illinois
Amy Edwards – assistant provost and director, Division of Management Information. Illinois
Steve Fleagle – associate vice president and CIO. University of Iowa
Jeff Fox – CIO, College of Veterinary Medicine. Illinois
Ingrid Fulmer – professor and advisor, Office of the Provost. Illinois
Katherine Galvin – director of programs. Big Ten Academic Alliance
Bill Gropp – director, National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Illinois
Bernie Gulachek – vice president and CIO. University of Minnesota
Patty Jones – assistant vice chancellor for research and innovation compliance, Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Illinois
Robin Kaler – associate chancellor for strategic communications and marketing, Office of the Chancellor. Illinois
Cindy Leavitt – Former vice president and CIO, The Ohio State University
Jessica Li – associate dean for research, College of Education, director of the Bureau of Educational Research, and professor of human resource development, Department of Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership, College of Education. Illinois
Tulio Llosa – associate provost and CIO. University of Illinois-Springfield
Brad Mahaffey – deputy CIO for enterprise infrastructure, Office of the CIO. Illinois
Becky McNaught – executive director for project management & business service quality, Office of Strategic Project Management. Illinois
Shari Mickey-Boggs – senior associate chancellor for human resources, Illinois HR. Illinois
Kevin Morooney – vice president of trust & identity and NET+ programs. Internet2
Anita Nikolich – director of research and technology innovation and research scientist, School of Information Sciences. Illinois
John O’Brien – president and CEO. EDUCAUSE
Staci Provezis – associate provost for planning & assessment, Office of the Provost. Illinois
James Quisenberry – executive director for Student Affairs Technology and CIO, Student Affairs. Illinois
Paul Redman – executive associate provost for budget & resource planning, Office of the Provost. Illinois
Sean Reynolds – vice president for IT and CIO. Northwestern
Matt Riley – associate vice chancellor and CIO, Technology Solutions. University of Illinois-Chicago
Dominic Saebeler – senior associate director of the Information Trust Institute, The Grainger College of Engineering. Illinois
Claire Stewart – dean of Libraries and university librarian, University Library. Illinois
Bill Sullivan – professor and director of the Smart, Healthy Communities Initiative, Office of the Provost. Illinois
Sandra Thompson – associate director of cybersecurity program administration, Office of the CIO. Illinois
Chris Tidrick – senior director of information technology and CIO, Gies College of Business. Illinois
Tracy Tolliver – director of Library Information Technology, University Library. Illinois
John Towns – deputy director, National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Illinois
Nick Vance – assistant director of strategic initiatives and partnerships, Office of the CIO. Illinois