Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Timothy M. Chester, vice president for information technology at the University of Georgia, says the promotion of two Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) employees will round out his leadership team.

Chester — who joined the University in September 2011 — has named Lynn Latimer Wilson the associate chief information officer (CIO) for planning and engagement, and Brian Rivers as associate CIO for university information security. Their new positions became effective on Jan. 2.

“With the elevation of these two individuals, I feel that I have completed one of my most important goals at UGA, which has been to put into place a very strong team of senior IT leaders who not only directs and supervises EITS operations, but also supports and influences the work of IT units across the University,” Chester said.

Wilson and Rivers both have been serving in existing leadership roles for EITS — which is the University’s central IT department.

Wilson has been serving as the assistant CIO for planning and engagement. In her new role as an associate CIO, she will take on additional responsibilities — including the supervision of EITS’ next director of finance and business services and their unit. EITS is in the process of filling that vacant position.

Chester said in the almost seven years she has served the University, Wilson has been successful in progressively rising from an IT manager to an associate CIO.

“Many have remarked to me how they are impressed with Lynn’s leadership style and approach, and I believe the tone and pace that she sets daily is fast becoming the heart and soul of how EITS collaborates internally and with others across UGA,” Chester said. “I am proud of her work the past 16 months and I am grateful that she has accepted this opportunity.”

In recognition of the critical nature of the UGA’s current information security initiatives, Chester said he has elevated Rivers’ position from information security officer to associate CIO for university information security.

Since becoming the University’s information security officer in 2010, Rivers has developed a strong team of professionals whose expertise has been recently described by law enforcement officers as “exceptional,” according to Chester.

“As I think about how we will continue to evolve current infrastructure, platforms, and services to support the diverse needs of the UGA communities, information security will be the most important part of that work,” Chester said. “I am also proud of Brian’s efforts the past 16 months and am grateful that he is a part of my leadership team.”

Chester said his IT leadership team includes experts in engineering, infrastructure, academic and administrative systems, architecture and system integration, information security, and planning, analysis and communications.

“It is a very strong team,” he said. “As I think about this past year, I feel very blessed to be able to work with these fine individuals and others each day at this great University — the University of Georgia.”