Transition in Information Technology Leadership

May 11, 2007

Members of the Rutgers Community:

Michael V. McKay, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, will be retiring from the university on May 31, 2007. Mike, who came to Rutgers in 1985 as a professor of military science following a distinguished 22-year career in the U.S. Army, has performed his duties with professionalism, dedication, and humanity, and we are deeply grateful for his leadership of the Office of Information Technology.

I am pleased to announce that, effective June 1, associate professor Donald E. Smith, director of the Laboratory for Computer Science Research (LCSR), will serve as interim vice president for information technology and interim chief information officer for a period of at least one year. 

During this time, Don will bear responsibility for conducting a comprehensive self-study of the university's IT resources, services, and working relationships, building on the universitywide IT Strategic Plan completed in August 2006. The goal of the self-study is to ensure that Rutgers' IT resources are used to their full potential in serving administrative, instructional, and research needs across the university.

Dr. Smith will jointly report to the senior vice president for administration and chief financial officer and the executive vice president for academic affairs. He will oversee the self-study and begin implementation of approved recommendations that come from it.

Don has been a valuable member of the Rutgers faculty and LCSR director, and served as chair of the universitywide IT Strategic Planning Committee.  I am confident that he will perform with distinction as he accepts this new responsibility, and I know you will give him your full support and cooperation as the self-study commences.

Please join me in offering best wishes and many thanks to Mike McKay as he completes a stellar career at Rutgers.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey