LAKELAND, Fla. β 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»has officially welcomed Chief Information Officer Tom Hull to its executive leadership team. Hull has 28 years of IT experience and has served as CIO for several universities including Virginia Commonwealth and, most recently, Pace University in New York.
βTom is a proven visionary in the field of information technology,β said Ava Parker, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs chief operating officer. βWe are delighted and fortunate to have him as a member of our leadership team, and already we are seeing the benefits of his expertise.β
Hull, whose background includes strategic technology planning for IBM and the Pentagon, will be the driving force behind 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs technology systems and strategy. His efforts will play a major role in creating the universityβs cutting-edge, 21st century academic environment.
βI want everyone to know that 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly is going to be a modern, tech-savvy university from the start, and itβs going to build into a world-renowned STEM institution,β said Hull, who envisions 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly rapidly rising to the ranks of esteemed polytechnic institutions like MIT, Georgia Tech and Cal Poly.
Parker shares that vision and believes in its achievability.
βWeβre building a 21st century university from the ground up, and we have a much better understanding of how fast technology changes,β said Parker. βAs legacy universities grow, they must unravel and retrofit old systems to remain competitive. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly will launch with advanced tools and platforms that are built to evolve with our high-tech era.β
The tools and platforms that Hull will directly shape include 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs student information system, campus communications system, classroom technologies and curriculum delivery methods.
His job is no small undertaking, but Hull is invigorated.
βWeβre starting the 12th university in 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs State System. Thereβs no other activity like that currently in the United States,β said Hull. βThis is the most exciting thing happening in higher education in the country right now.β