I have been fortunate enough to serve on several national boards or executive committees to shape technology and higher education. This engagement to shape the future of technology and higher education spans more than 20 years and includes some of the most impactful companies in the world. I currently serve or have served on the Microsoft Higher Education Advisory Board (2019 – 2025), Dell Higher Education Customer Advisory Board (2017 – 2024), Zoom Higher Education Advisory Council (2021 – 2025), United States Military Academy Advisory Council (2018 – 2023), Aruba Higher Education Customer Advisory Council (2018 – 2020), CDW-G Higher Education Advisory Board (2015-2020), Computer Science Accreditation Board (2008 – 2012), Editorial Board, Red Hat Enterprisers (2014 – 2023), Advisory Board, Center for Higher Education, CIO Studies (2013 – 2018) and Computing Accreditation Commission, ABET (2003 – 2023).
Locally, I serve on the Alabama Supercomputer Board (2017-2025), Governor’s Task Force on AI (2019-2023), Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access (2020-2023), Birmingham Tech Council (2017-2020), and Advisory Board for the Alabama IT Symposium (2016-2020). I have been a judge, reviewer, governing body member, and program committee member or chair for numerous conferences and events. Many of these board commitments are longstanding and cumulatively represent a deep contribution to the fields of technology and higher education.
Some might question the image selection above wondering why it is not a high powered corporate board meeting room or more recently worldwide zoom meetings with lots of folks in suits. While both of those perceptions are true, the real work of boards occurs in the subcommittees and not infrequently with an adult beverage nearby. Personal relationships and trust matter just as much as competence.
Technology Community Development
I remain active in the technology community striving to build an ecosystem that supports personal bonds between technology leaders, a sharing of best practices and ideas, and a community to nurture new talent and retain existing talent.
In Birmingham, I cofounded the Alabama chapter of the inspireCIO Leadership Association in 2016 and served as its 2nd chair. I serve on the executive committee and the chapter has grown to one of the largest in the United States. I co-founded the Alabama Higher Education CIO Council in 2018 which brings together the 14 public higher education CIOs quarterly. I serve as an advisory board and executive committee member for TechBirmingham and recently chaired the membership committee. I served on the Alabama Advisory Board for TechBridge from 2015 – 2020 and subsequently have served as a TechBridge Ambassador. I was recognized for my contributions to the Alabama technology community with the 2021 Alabama CIO Leadership Award.
In Atlanta, I am the longest serving co-chair of Evanta’s Atlanta CIO Summit (2010-Present), a co-chair of the HMG’s Atlanta CIO Summit, and previously on the advisory boards for the Georgia Digital Government Summit, Atlanta Telecommunications Professionals (ATP), Georgia CIO Leadership Association, INTERFACE Conference, and the Atlanta CIO Forum & Executive IT Summit (PEM). My contributions to Georgia in the development of technology communities were recognized with the 2013 ATP Leadership Impact Award.