UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — David Horton, chief information officer and senior associate vice president at the University of Oklahoma, has been named Penn State’s new vice president for Information Technology (IT) and chief information officer (CIO). Horton will begin his new role on a part-time basis before joining the University full time no later than June 1.
As vice president and CIO, Horton will lead the University’s information technology enterprise. Reporting to Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business/treasurer, and serving as a member of the president’s council, Horton will oversee Penn State IT, which is the University's central IT unit, and also will provide strategic leadership for the 1,200 IT professionals across all colleges, campuses and administrative units.
Horton’s responsibilities will include overseeing implementation of IT services and providing strategic leadership for IT initiatives that support Penn State’s academic mission and strategic goals; developing and maintaining an appropriate IT organizational structure that supports the needs of the University and serves University stakeholders; facilitating IT governance practices and procedures; optimizing IT investments and efficiencies; ensuring the reliability and security of IT systems and infrastructure; and leveraging technologies to enrich teaching and learning, improve research capabilities, enhance student success and further institutional priorities.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to return to Pennsylvania and work alongside the strong community of IT professionals at Penn State, providing efficient, secure, reliable and innovative technology services to our students, faculty and staff,” said Horton, who was born in Meadville and is the son of a Penn State alumnus. “In this way, we are helping to enhance the positive impact that Penn State and our alumni create every day across the globe.”
Horton succeeds Chris Lucas, interim vice president for IT and CIO, who will remain in his role as associate vice president for academic technologies and customer experience at Penn State.
“David brings a wealth of experience and expertise with him as he takes the helm of Penn State’s IT operations. His track record and dedication will serve him well in this critical leadership role,” said Thorndike. “We’re excited to welcome David to the University and very much look forward to working with him as he provides innovative, strategic IT direction University-wide.”
Horton has served as chief information officer at the University of Oklahoma for the past five years. He is responsible for central IT services for all campuses and oversees a university-wide team of 400 employees. During his tenure, he has managed all facets of IT, overseeing workforce, budget, operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, risk programs, enterprise applications, data services, policy development, governance and mission support.
Among his accomplishments at Oklahoma, Horton reduced IT costs and enhanced efficiencies; optimized the IT organization using system-wide teams; established a new model for IT governance; updated and consolidated IT policies system-wide; oversaw broad improvements to cybersecurity; and made significant research computing investments.
From 2011 to 2018, he served as associate vice president of IT shared services at the University of Oklahoma, as well as chief technology officer at the OU Health Services Center in Oklahoma City. Previously, he served as director of IT infrastructure services at the OU Health Sciences Center from 2004 to 2011.
Horton received his bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies from Oklahoma City University. He has held numerous technical certifications and actively participates on local, state and national advisory boards focused on technology and higher education.