Indiana State University Newsroom

Lisa Spence, associate vice chancellor for knowledge management and operations for the University System of Georgia, has been named Indiana State University's new associate vice president for academic affairs and chief information officer.

Spence will take the place of Ed Kinley, who is retiring after eight years leading information technology at ISU. She will start her new position on Aug. 1.

"I am very pleased to join a team that has involvement and impact in so many areas, and obviously does a great job for the people and departments they support," Spence said.

Spence has more than 26 years of experience leading information technology services, including at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Southern University. She earned her bachelor's and master's of professional accountancy at Mississippi State University and a doctor of educational administration from Georgia Southern University.

Jack Maynard, ISU provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he was excited for Spence to join the ISU leadership team.

"She brings a wealth of experience and a leadership style that will serve our campus well," he said. "The search committee did an excellent job of conducting a national search and presented four very strong candidates to the campus."

Spence said her new position will allow her to return to a campus environment, which is where her heart is.

"While it's been rewarding to be part of IT operations at the university system level, I have missed the direct contact with students and faculty, and being a part of the teaching, research and service missions of an institution that are so important," she said.

The Office of Information Technology's good reputation on ISU's campus, its work at the center of administration, research and teaching activities, and its own strategic plan speak well for how the office approaches its support role on campus, Spence said.

"The campus is moving forward quickly with a number of key initiatives and areas of focus," she said. "That's fun, because it creates an environment that supports very creative, out-of-the-box kind of thinking, and also the kind of careful planning that's important for new initiatives. It gives IT people opportunities to identify new technologies and approaches to support forward movement."

In learning about ISU, Spence said was attracted to what she described as the university's special attributes.

"First, the emphasis on community involvement is very appealing. I am very interested in ISU's leadership in this area and how I can be a part of those efforts," she said. "Second, the fact that you all have a strategic plan that clearly spells out your areas of focus, and your activities and progress against your goals, is very important. Not only does this help to define the character of the institution, so to speak, but it also assists IT by helping us to define needs and prioritize them."

She also found herself enjoying the faculty and staff at ISU.

"It seemed to me while I was there that the people at ISU are not only very warm and caring, but also very excited about the growth of the institution, the direction it is taking and the service they provide in so many ways to students and the state," she said. "I have to say that it would be difficult to visit ISU and come away without wanting to be a part of that."

Contact and Writer: Jennifer Sicking, Indiana State University, associate director of media relations, at 812-237-7972 or Jennifer.Sicking@indstate.edu