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News

New CIO named for System, University

by JESSICA ROBERTSON
Senior Staff Writer

Dennis Fouty will shoulder the burden of keeping the UH System's technological elements running smoothly after being appointed the System's chief information officer and associate vice chancellor for information technology, and UH CIO and associate vice president for IT.

Fouty has worked for the University since 1995 and served as interim CIO for more than a year.

"UH has a lot to be proud of with its technology infrastructure," he said. "CIO is an interesting position with two major responsibilities -- leading the central IT organization of 300 people and facilitating new technology for the University. My goal is to align the different groups in the IT partnership with the University's objectives."

The central IT organization that Fouty heads is responsible for any technology services the University uses, including its online network, telephone connections and payroll systems. 

Technology has become an integral part of the UH System in the last decade, Fouty said. The University's state-of-the-art infrastructure allows students, faculty and administrators to conduct most of their business online.

"The way we do business today mirrors what is available elsewhere (technologically)," he said. "More of what you've had to stand in line for, you can now go online for."

Another aspect of the CIO position includes protecting the University's online network from security threats. Threats are commonly thought of as viruses but can also include national disasters, Fouty said.

"If something like (Hurricane Katrina) happened in Houston, we'd have to be prepared for it," he said. "We'd want to still be able to communicate by e-mail and television, keep our networks up and maintain our payroll systems."

Fouty is a member of the University's Emergency Management Team. He chaired a recent crisis communication task force to discuss ways to protect the University during a national disaster.

Fouty began his career at UH as director of the Department of Telecommunications in 1995. He became director of computing and telecommunications services the next year and was later the associate vice president and vice chancellor of that department. 

He has also been a consultant for the Cincinnati Bell Telephone Co., Walt Disney World and MCI. Fouty served as Northwestern University's vice president for planning and development before coming to UH in 1995. 

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in management from the University of Nebraska and a doctorate in educational administration from Ohio University.
 

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