BY ROSA KIM

In print | November 8, 2007

The Information Technology Services Director Search Committee is currently deliberating as to who will replace Judy Downing as the new Information Technology Services director. According to Thomas Stephenson, chemistry professor and committee chair, the committee received over 100 applications when it began its search last April.

Since then, the committee has narrowed down the applicant pool to two finalists — Gayle Barton, director of instructional technology at Williams College and Eric Behrens ‘92 current associate director and humanities coordinator here at the college. Over the past two weeks, the committee has hosted open discussions with the finalists to gain the student body’s input in making a recommendation to Provost Constance Hain Hungerford, who will make the final decision. Members of the campus community met with Behrens last week, coverage of which can be found in the 11/1/ issue of The Phoenix. This week, discussion forums were held with Barton.

Barton, who has a BA in economics from Bryn Mawr College and a MA in Education from St. Lawrence University, revealed her view of technology’s function in institutions of higher learning in this week’s open discussions.

She said that in addition to its indispensable role in classrooms and administration offices, technology is also a vital communication tool both between members of the campus community and between the college and the world at large. Barton also shared with the audience personal information including her upbringing, the various career decisions that led to her current position at Williams and her vision of how the introduction of new technologies can impact students’ and administrators’ lives on campus.

Barton asked audience members to suggest one thing they would like ITS to provide, and then provided feedback on the feasibility of each suggestion. Barton said she envisions the ITS director as a communicator who is in the position to advocate for effective use of technology on campus, lead policy issues and prioritize budgeting in introducing new and improving existing technology on campus.

Stephenson said that the ITS director holds a very important position on campus. “It certainly affects the tone of the relationship between ITS and the rest of the community,” he said.

Eric Christiansen ‘08, a student member on the search committee, said, "The director, I think, formally doesn’t have a huge amount of legislative power. But the director implements lots of policies and can certainly have an influence."

Stephenson said while ITS is not as an essential part of the college’s academic life as the quality of the faculty and the breadth of the curriculum, it plays a critical role in the quality of the educational experience. “Certainly just in terms of day to day functioning; e-mail, providing software, and things like that, it’s absolutely essential,” Stephenson said. “Blackboard is probably an area where ITS has the greatest impact on the day to day functioning of the academic program.” Stephenson added that ITS also provides other classroom technology, such as projection systems.

Christiansen said that other services students use everyday, such as wireless networking, printers and the help desk, are all provided by ITS. “We depend on IT[S] for lots of things [we] do here,” Christiansen said.

Stephenson said that the search committee looked for applicants with an extensive experience with technology in higher education, an open management style and good communication skills, among other qualities. Stephenson said that both Barton and Behrens have the complimentary skills and backgrounds that make them suitable candidates. “I’d say we’re very lucky to have two really high qualified finalists that know this kind of environment very well,” Stephenson said.

“I think they’re both strong candidates. I’d be happy if either one got the job,” Christiansen said.

According to Stephenson, the new ITS director will assume the position early next semester.

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