The University’s new Chief Information Officer Brian Voss stepped into his office for the first time Monday. After just two days at work in the Frey Computing Services Center, the new information technology chief said he feels right at home.
Though he said he loves his home state of Indiana, Voss plans to stay in Louisiana for a number of years.
“I’m pretty sure it’s gonna stick,” Voss said.
A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s in industrial engineering, Voss has written more than a dozen papers on a variety of information-technology subjects. He has also worked for prominent information companies like LexisNexis Academic and Mead Data Central.
As the new CIO, Voss will lead the University’s pursuit of national prominence on the information-technology front.
Technology is outlined in the Flagship Agenda as one of the University’s seven strategic assets alongside finance, curriculum, research, buildings, faculty and students.
“The fact that LSU stated its goals for the IT program in its Flagship Agenda really drew me here,” he said. “I wanted to come to a place that viewed its technology as a key to success.”
Voss said that in his interview process, he found the University’s technology was already in great condition.
As a part of the Student Government elections, President-elect Michelle Gieg and fellow candidate Heath Hattaway interviewed Voss alongside current President Brad Golson.
“He is definitely going to be a huge asset to our school,” Hattaway said. “He is very innovative and is really thinking ahead.”
Golson spoke of Voss’ master plan. Of the two candidates, Voss offered a clearer vision.
“Technology is a moving target,” Golson said. “Voss definitely has the knowledge and the resources to keep up with it.”
Voss spent nearly 20 years at Indiana University, one of the nation’s top universities in technology. Under Voss’ leadership Indiana became the first
university in the country to offer free Microsoft software, valued at more than $1,000, to each of its students.
Voss brings his key theory of “information technology abundance” to LSU. The idea — a play off the economic theory — is for technology to not be an end in itself, but instead, a way in which the mission of an institution of higher education is ultimately served.
“The goal is to get information in, not out,” said Voss. “This University is a leading research institution, and our goal is to make sure that research has no limits.”
Voss plans to meet with Student Government President-elect Michelle Gieg and have the LSU community create the ultimate technology plan.
As CIO, Voss plans to apply and expand the ideas of students and faculty.
As other universities have begun to offer more and more technological benefits to their students — Duke is giving away iPods to all of its incoming students — Voss thinks something similar could happen at LSU.
“It’s about meat,” he said. “If you’re going to do it, make it useful to your university’s goals. Not only do you have to make it beneficial, but it also has to draw the attention it intends.”
Voss said his strategy is like that of a football coach, “If you score four touchdowns within the first quarter, you’re going to win the game. So students can look forward to additions to our programs very soon.”