It is a pleasure to announce that Brad Smith, director of information technology services, research and faculty partnerships, and adjunct associate professor of computer engineering, has agreed to serve as vice chancellor for information technology on an interim basis. Pending approval from UC President Janet Napolitano, this appointment will begin today (June 30) and extend until we fill the position on a permanent basis.
Brad is a well-known face at UC Santa Cruz. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D., all in computer science, at the university. He also has worked in numerous capacities on campus over the past 25 years. Prior to being named director of faculty partnerships in 2006, his duties included computing director at the Baskin School of Engineering and director of core technologies for Information Technology Services. In addition, he has taught computer engineering classes on campus for the past decade.
I look forward to working with Brad during this leadership transition. His deep familiarity with campus and the division, coupled with his expertise in information technology, ensure we won't miss a step.
Brad is temporarily filling the seat of Mary Doyle, who is retiring after nearly a decade on campus as vice chancellor for information technology.
Mary has been a deeply valued member of the leadership of UC Santa Cruz, and I am grateful to her for her many accomplishments, among them Connected Central Coast. Mary was a driving force behind the project that extended a fiber-optic internet backbone from Santa Cruz into the Salinas Valley, boosting network service to underserved communities while also providing a reliable backup to the single fiber-optic line that connects campus to Silicon Valley.
In addition, Mary secured campus approval for our Telecommunications Infrastructure Upgrade, which will bring modern communications capabilities to all buildings on campus, and she has championed the project through its many phases. She also started the transition of the campus's major computing applications to the cloud, providing the potential for more robust, scalable, and cost-effective service.
The campus is wrapping up a nationwide search for Mary’s successor, and we hope to make an announcement soon.
