OIT Leadership

Leadership Starts With Learning

Robert H. Dedman, Sr.


  • Dr. Michael H. Hites

    Dr. Michael H. Hites

    èßäÊÓƵapp Chief Information Officer

    As CIO, Michael Hites is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the IT organization to ensure alignment and support of the various University strategic initiatives. The CIO is responsible for working closely with the Vice Presidents, Deans, and Leaders across èßäÊÓƵapp to ensure that OIT is delivering the services and support required to enhance the academic and business efforts. 

  • Chris Smith, Interim

    Information Security Office

    The Information Security team is responsible for implementing and monitoring a diverse security infrastructure to protect the University network and data. The Security team is responsible for recommending security architectures, providing centralized database security, reviewing vendor security, capturing security logs, overseeing security investigations, and managing various security technologies. 




  • Curt Herridge

    Dr. Curt Herridge

    Associate CIO for Data and Application Services

    Curt Herridge is the Associate Chief Information Officer for Data and Application Services at èßäÊÓƵapp. The team is responsible for administering and upkeep enterprise applications such as the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, referred to as my.èßäÊÓƵapp. The Web Application Services team operates and develops on the platform that drives smu.edu and blog.smu.edu by partnering with digital marketers, faculty, and staff across èßäÊÓƵapp. The data teams are responsible for enterprise data warehousing, databases, integration, and visualization of the critical data assets. In addition, these teams partner across èßäÊÓƵapp to ensure the best possible digital interactions with èßäÊÓƵapp.

  • Rachel

    Rachel Mulry

    Associate CIO for Planning and Customer Service

    Planning and Customer Service, under the leadership of Rachel Mulry, is responsible for providing client technology support to the èßäÊÓƵapp community. This includes the following services: IT Help Desk for reporting all technology related requests and issues; client hardware and software support for 7,000+ computing devices èßäÊÓƵapp wide (including installation and repair, software installations, patching, and recycling); Audio/Video (AV) installation consulting and support for equipment in classrooms, meeting rooms and events; training for various software applications and services;  and communication efforts from IT to the èßäÊÓƵapp Community.

    Rachel also oversees the Project Management Office. She is responsible for overseeing the development, adoption, and continuous improvement of project management disciplines, processes and standards to align with the university’s vision and strategy.  

  • David Nguyen

    David Nguyen

    Associate CIO of Infrastructure

    Infrastructure, under the leadership of David Nguyen, is responsible for maintaining the Networking, Telecommunications and Systems Administration services.  Networking is responsible for èßäÊÓƵapp wired and wireless network, firewall administration, maintaining inside/outside cable plant, telephone and voice mail operations. Telecommunications provides long distance, calling card, audio conferencing services and is responsible for the èßäÊÓƵapp wide cable services contracts. Systems is responsible for the installation and management of server environments, the High Performance Computing infrastructure, email, identity management and file storage services. 

  • Jason Warner

    Dr. Jason Warner

    Associate CIO for Academic Technology Services

    Academic Technology, under the leadership of Jason Warner, provides direct services to faculty in support of academic and instructional technology use and exploration at èßäÊÓƵapp.  This team partners with faculty to advance technology in scholarship by being innovative and creative in making technology accessible, understandable and appealing to academic audiences and by providing guidance and resourcefulness in identifying and integrating technology solutions that meet teaching and research needs.  The academic operations team is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the University’s learning management systems, for supporting statistical and mathematical software programs, and for assisting with development of digital and online media.  The embedded academic technology team locates technology service directors within èßäÊÓƵapp’s various academic areas based on discipline-specific experience and expertise which complement and advance the strategic academic technology interests of that academic area.