As CIO, Jones will provide vision, leadership, integrative management, and direction for the University's shared and secured information systems, and help to mobilize and promote leading-edge computing technology environment for faculty and students. He will also be responsible for institution-wide strategic planning and budgeting for information technologies, and coordination and integration of university information technology across all locations in Klamath Falls, the Portland-Metro campus in Wilsonville, and at sites in Salem and Seattle.
“We’re looking forward to Jim joining us at ˿Ƶ Tech in this very important role,” said Dr. Nagi Naganathan, President designate of ˿Ƶ Tech. “Jim is the type of solutions- and customer-oriented leader that we need to take the institution to the next generation of technology services, and integration into the systems and departments at the university. Whether the academic side of ˿Ƶ Tech, admissions, registrar or what have you, every department has diverse and constant need for strong technology systems. Jim impressed us as someone who can meet the challenges of today’s fast changing environment by seeing what we will need not just today, but in the years ahead.”
Jones has been with Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington since 2004, most recently serving as Associate CIO and Interim CIO beginning in 2015, responsible for strategic planning, contract negotiation for technology projects, and facilitating budget growth and project governance into technology initiatives. Also at Gonzaga, Jones was Director of Information Technology Operations; Assistant Director of Client Support Services; and IT Security Analyst. Prior to joining Gonzaga, Jones was Director of IT Security and Help Desk Manager at the Community Health Network of CT from 2000 to 2004.
“I’m excited to join ˿Ƶ Tech at this very unique time for the university. Between the growth in programs and enrollment, new partnerships, a new president and other leaders joining, there’s an opportunity and great potential to really extend the university in all regards. I look forward to contributing to ˿Ƶ Tech and getting to know all of the campuses and sites, and exploring ˿Ƶ,” said Jones.
Jones received a BS and MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University, and is currently working on his PhD in Leadership Philosophy, also from Gonzaga.
Dr. Naganathan added, “I want to thank members of the Search Committee for all of their hard work and management of this process over the last few months. This very successful outcome was possible under the leadership of Search Chair Brian Fox, and Committee members Seth Anthony, Sonja Holcomb, Laura McKinney, Steve Neiheisel, Troy Scevers, Farooq Sultan, and Erika Veth. I would also like to thank Dr. Jay Kenton, ˿Ƶ Tech Interim President, for his leadership and contributions.”
