ITS Governance

ITS Governance
An inclusive, collaborative governance structure is a key component of technology management at Loyola University Chicago. Information Technology Services has established five Advisory Groups aligned with major areas of focus in the technology environment. These groups guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of technology resources and services, ensuring transparency, alignment with institutional priorities, and support for technology throughout its lifecycle.
IT Steering Committee
The IT Steering Committee (ITSC) provides strategic oversight for technology planning and investment at Loyola University Chicago. Comprised of senior leadership from across the University, the ITSC meets every 6 to 8 weeks and serves as the decision-making body that guides and supports the work of the ITS Advisory Groups. The committee reviews prioritization recommendations, evaluates cross-functional proposals, ensures alignment with university goals, and helps communicate the progress and impact of IT initiatives to the broader community.
IT Steering Committee Membership
- Luigi Amendola - Advancement
- LeRoy Butler - Information Technology Services (Facilitator)
- Keith Champagne - Student Development
- Lorna Finnegan - School Of Nursing
- Danielle Hanson - Human Resources
- Kana Henning - Facilities
- Tom Kelly - Administrative Services
- Teresa Krafcisin - Finance
- Jeremy Langford - University Marketing Communications
- Wayne Magdziarz - Finance
- Fr. Tom Nietzke - Advancement
- Janice Parks - Human Resources
- Catherine Robert - Provost Office
- Paul Roberts - Enrollment Management & Student Success
- Doug Woods - Provost Office
Advisors (non-voting members):
- Jeff Apa - Information Technology Services
- Dawn Fitzgerald - Information Technology Services
- Dan Vonder Heide - Information Technology Services
- Jim Pardonek - Information Technology Services
- Ron Price - Information Technology Services
- Randy Wooding - Information Technology Services
Advisory Groups
Academic Technology Advisory Group
The Academic Technology Advisory Group advises on technology directions, strategies, policies, and priorities important to the university's technology goals in teaching, learning, scholarship, and other academic objectives. This group is dedicated to enhancing the overall academic experience by improving the resources, processes, and support within the university’s technology environment.
Purpose & Scope
The Academic Technology Advisory Group will address IT-related matters that affect the academic technologies and associated services at the university. This includes the following:
- Advocating for innovative technological solutions that enhance teaching, learning, and research.
- Supporting the planning of academic technology initiatives.
- Evaluating and improving accessibility and usability of the university’s technology platforms.
- Developing and ensuring timely community communications about IT services and updates that impact the academic endeavors of the university.
- Enhancing academic interactions with university technologies and resources.
- Developing initiatives to increase awareness and proficiency in faculty and student use of university technology resources.
- Monitoring and assessing the impact of technology solutions on academic experiences.
This group will concentrate on the strategic and tactical dimensions of technology resources and services that assist the University's academic goals, rather than addressing operational or technical IT issues. The group will respect the autonomy of individual units or departments in managing their own IT resources and requirements unless there is a significant and justified reason to intervene in operational IT matters.
Membership
- Aaron Barker – Associate Registrar, Registration & Records
- Stacy Neier Beran – Senior Lecturer of Marketing, School of Business
- Samuel Brunson – Professor, School of Law
- Kathy Chavez Dominik – Manager, Classroom Technology Services, ITS
- John Gurnak – Director of Online Learning, Provost's Office
- Amy Kiefer, PhD, RN – Clinical Assistant Professor Ft, Nursing, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
- Jonna Peterson – Director of Health Sciences Library, Associate Dean, University Libraries
- Trent Reed – Professor, Dept of EM & Med Ed, Chair, Dept of Med Ed, Assistant Dean, Simulation Education, Director, CME
- Vince Singleton – Assistant Professor, School of Communication
- Jhon Tenorio – Student Representative
- Dan Vonder Heide – Associate Vice President, Technology Support Services, ITS (Facilitator)
- Tim Walker – Associate Director, Learning Technologies & Innovation, ITS (Facilitator)
Student Experience Advisory Group
The Student Experience Advisory Group is dedicated to improving the overall student experience by refining resources, processes, and support within the University's technological environment. This group concentrates on identifying and resolving issues, championing essential changes, and guaranteeing that technology adequately supports students' academic experiences and campus life, which will bolster student engagement and success.
Purpose & Scope
The Student Experience Advisory Group will address IT-related matters that affect the student experience at the university. This includes the following:
- Identifying and prioritizing technology initiatives that will have significant positive impact on the student experience.
- Ensuring students have access to efficient, user-friendly, and appropriate technology solutions to support their educational experiences.
- Fostering greater collaboration on technology resources and services that affect students.
- Monitoring and assessing technology resources and support services.
This group will concentrate on the strategic and tactical dimensions of technology resources and services that assist the University's academic goals, rather than addressing operational or technical IT issues. The group will respect the autonomy of individual units or departments in managing their own IT resources and requirements unless there is a significant and justified reason to intervene in operational IT matters.
Membership
- Dawn Fitzgerald – Associate Vice President, Enterprise Systems, ITS (Facilitator)
- Xiomara Franco – Manager, App Development System Integration, ITS
- Kaitlyn Hoffmann – Instructor, Quinlan School of Business
- Agape Lamberis – Director, Registration & Records, Student Affairs, Stritch School of Medicine
- Nick Liberatore – Manager, Digital Media Services, ITS
- Chandra Norder-Brandli – ENP Program Lead, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
- Sean O’Brien – Assistant Dean, Arrupe College
- Penelope Reynolds – Student Representative
- Susan Ries – Associate Provost, Academic Records & Processes, Provost's Office
- Rita Vazquez – Registrar & Director, Registration & Records
- Dan Vonder Heide – Associate Vice President, Technology Support Services, ITS (Facilitator)
- Andy Wilson – Sr Associate Vice President, Student Success, Enrollment Management
- Randy Wooding – Associate Vice President, Technology Services, ITS
Enterprise Technologies Advisory Group
The Enterprise Technologies Advisory Group provides guidance in developing and supporting core enterprise systems and infrastructure technologies along with investing in these resources.
Purpose & Scope
The Enterprise Technologies Advisory Group will address IT-related matters that affect the enterprise technologies at the university. This includes the following:
- Providing oversight for the identification and selection of enterprise level service solutions which aligns with academic and administrative direction, goals, and priorities.
- Providing a forum where new infrastructure requirements or emerging technologies are discussed and considered.
- Reviewing proposed enterprise technology projects and advising on university-wide impact of projects.
- Considering and discussing the impact of enterprise system changes on people, process, technology, and standards and policies.
This group will concentrate on the strategic and tactical dimensions of technology resources and services that assist the university's academic goals, rather than addressing operational or technical IT issues. The group will respect the autonomy of individual units or departments in managing their own IT resources and requirements unless there is a significant and justified reason to intervene in operational IT matters.
Membership
- Jeff Apa – Associate Vice President, Infrastructure Services, ITS (Facilitator)
- Dawn Fitzgerald – AVP, Enterprise Systems, ITS (Facilitator)
- Patrick Brawley – University Architect & Assistant Vice President, Facilities
- John Campbell – Bursar, Office of the Bursar
- Marian Chen – Student Systems Administrator, Institutional Effectiveness
- John Drevs – Associate Vice President, University Marketing & Communications
- Becky Gomez Klein – Assistant Vice President, Financial Systems & Payroll, Finance
- Danielle Hanson – Associate Vice President, Human Resources
- Hong Ma – Head of Library Systems, University Libraries
- Sunny Moon – Vice Provost, Institutional Effectiveness
- Tracy Snowberger - Director, Financial Systems & Reporting, Finance
- Benjamin Braun - Student Representative
- Boas Gelfand - Student Representative
Information Security Advisory Group
The Information Security Advisory Group provides strategic direction, oversight, and guidance for the university's information security program. This group aims to ensure the protection of the university's information assets, compliance with regulatory requirements, and alignment with business objectives.
Purpose & Scope
The Information Security Advisory Group is responsible for the governance of all information security activities within the University. This includes policy development, risk management, compliance, incident response, and continuous improvement of the information security program.
This group will concentrate on the strategic and tactical dimensions of technology resources and services that assist the University's academic goals, rather than addressing operational or technical IT issues. The group will respect the autonomy of individual units or departments in managing their own IT resources and requirements unless there is a significant and justified reason to intervene in operational IT matters.
Membership
- Najma Ahmed – Technology Risk & Compliance Analyst, ITS (ex officio)
- Gino Angelini – Systems Administrator, Library Services
- Kathleen Bobay – Professor, Parkinson School of Health Sciences & Public Health
- Jolie Bruele – Director, Risk Management & Insurance
- Dr. Eric Chan-Tin – Professor, Computer Science
- Jon Fischer – Server Operations, ITS
- Becky Gomez Klein – Assistant Vice President, Financial Systems & Payroll, Finance
- Danielle Hanson – Associate Vice President, Human Resources
- Hong Ma – Senior Librarian, Library Services
- Cory O’Brien – Director, Cash Management, Treasury
- Chris Oh – Network Services, ITS
- Jim Pardonek – Chief Information Security Officer, ITS (Facilitator)
- Ron Price – Associate Vice President, Research & Analytics Services, ITS (Facilitator)
- Homayoon Taheri – Solution Architect, ITS
- Rita Vazquez – Registrar, Registration & Records
- Vivek Soolapany Warrier – Sr Manager, Human Resources
Research Technology Advisory Group
The Research Technology Advisory Group provides strategic guidance and recommendations to enhance the use of technology in research activities within the university. This group aims to ensure that research technologies are effectively leveraged to support innovation, efficiency, and excellence in research.
Purpose & Scope
The Research Technology Advisory Group provides strategic guidance, recommendations, and support on the development, implementation, and management of research technologies within the university. This includes the following:
- Assessing current research technologies and infrastructure and identifying opportunities for technological improvements.
- Advising on the selection, procurement, and deployment of research technologies.
- Recommending best practices for the integration and utilization of research technologies.
- Providing input on the allocation of resources for research technology projects.
- Advising on budgeting and funding strategies for technology investments.
- Ensuring research technologies regulatory compliance.
- Promoting data security, privacy, and ethical use of research technologies.
- Facilitating the exchange of information and ideas related to research technologies.
- Promoting continuous learning and skill development in research technology use.
- Reporting on the progress, challenges, and outcomes of research technology projects.
Membership
- Jeff Apa – Associate Vice President, Infrastructure Services, ITS (ex officio)
- Kathy Bobay – Health Informatics & Data Science, Parkinson School of Health Sciences & Public Health
- Katherine Breen – Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
- Jason Boyda – Manager, Research Computing Services, ITS
- Qunfeng Dong – Bioinformatics, Stritch School of Medicine
- Jonathan Fischer – Manager, Server Operations & Data Center Services, ITS
- Peter Kekenes-Huskey – Biomedical Sciences, Stritch School of Medicine
- Peter Larsen – Sequencing Core, Office of Research Services
- Gregory Matthews – Math and Statistics, College of Arts & Sciences
- Whelton Miller – Molecular Pharmacology, Stritch School of Medicine
- Peter Norlander – Information Systems, Quinlan School of Business
- Ron Price – Associate Vice President, Research & Analytics Services, ITS (Facilitator)
- George K. Thiruvthukal – Computer Science, College of Arts & Sciences
- Susan Zelisko – Manager, Research Data Services, ITS
An inclusive, collaborative governance structure is a key component of technology management at Loyola University Chicago. Information Technology Services has established five Advisory Groups aligned with major areas of focus in the technology environment. These groups guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of technology resources and services, ensuring transparency, alignment with institutional priorities, and support for technology throughout its lifecycle.