The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents approved the appointment of Steven “Steve” Smith as interim vice president for information technology and chief information officer of the UH System. Smith will be serving in place of David Lassner, who will be assuming the interim UH presidency effective September 1, 2013. Smith’s appointment will continue concurrently with Lassner’s interim assignment.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Steve’s knowledge and experience who is so able and willing to step right in,” said Lassner. “He has been involved in all our major projects and can continue to advance our agenda to support and improve education, research and administration through the innovative use of information and communication technologies.”
Smith joined UH as associate vice president and deputy CIO in June 2011. Prior to that, he served as chief information technology officer for the 16-campus University of Alaska System.
He has more than 30 years of progressively responsible professional and managerial experience in information technology, including various roles in broadcasting, IT and libraries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting/film from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in telecommunications, from UH Mānoa.
“As a proud UH graduate, I was delighted to be able to return to Hawaiʻi from Alaska two years ago,” said Smith. “I’m looking forward to this opportunity to serve UH and the entire State of Hawaiʻi.”
