Announcing the appointment of Benjamin Shier as UA’s CITO

September 2, 2022

Dear UA community,

I am pleased to announce I have selected Benjamin Shier to serve as the University of Alaska system’s Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO). He will begin his role on Monday Sept. 26. 

Shier brings extensive technology and management experience to the university at a time of major change in the university’s IT infrastructure and information management systems, including the transition to a student-focused, cloud-based system, upgrades to our broadband capabilities, and improvements to our information security and IT infrastructure posture.

Shier joins the System Office of Information Technology (OIT) with more than 12 years of experience in information systems management, most recently serving as the Chief Information Officer at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Other key roles included serving as the Chief Technology Officer for Policy and Planning and Chief Finance and Budget Officer at the State Office of Information Technology, Governor’s Media Technology Coordinator; Quality Assurance Officer and Assistant Director of Operations for the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, and several other executive leadership roles within the State of Alaska central IT organization.

In these roles Shier gained experience in systems management, organizational oversight, planning, policy development, and budgeting, and large scale change management.

“While I have a strong technology background, my primary strength is as a business leader, focused on the organization's mission and using data to drive decisions. I see technology decisions through a mission and cost/benefit/ROI lens and can effectively relay this perspective both to the technology organization and to executive leadership and the broader stakeholder community,” said Shier. “I look forward to bringing this experience to the university system as we work to modernize our IT systems to enhance the student experience and update our information management systems.”

Shier received his MPA and BS in Information Systems (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). During his time as a student at UAS he was a Student Body Senator/Vice President and participated in several UA system-wide efforts.

Please join me in welcoming Shier to this new role, and in thanking John Boucher for his service to the university over the last two years, and to Steve Meckel for serving as Acting CITO during this transition.

Sincerely,

Pat Pitney, President
University of Alaska