University Park, Pa. -- Gary Augustson, who has served as Penn State's first and only chief information officer for the past 24 years, has announced his intention to retire from the University this summer.
As vice provost for information technology, Augustson is responsible for more than 500 University employees managing telecommunications and computing activities across Penn State's 24-campus system. His leadership has helped the University become a national leader in applying information technology to the challenges faced by higher education.
"Gary has always kept Penn State on the leading edge of IT innovation, and he also has been a leader in advancing the national higher education infrastruture," said Penn State President Graham B. Spanier.
Augustson was brought to Penn State in 1982 by then-president John Oswald with the charge of bringing together the elements of information technology that were spread throughout the University, and building an operation responsible for harnessing emerging technology for the benefit of the teaching, learning and research mission of the University. While his title has changed over the years, this basic mission has remained.
"When I came to Penn State, we didn't have a telecommunications organization; we didn't have a teaching and learning organization; we didn't have a computer network security organization," said Augustson. "Much of what we have today didn't exist 20 years ago, and it had to be created for Penn State to be a competitive institution.
"I think we've built one of the finest staffs and one of the finest support functions of an organization our size in the country, and it has become a strength of Penn State," he added. "We've developed a very strong national reputation for what we've done in building the infrastructure to support a learning environment and helping to support research activities."
Augustson's focus has been on facilitating and creating learning communities and supporting research. As a result, the information technology infrastructure at Penn State is flexible enough to support the University's varied academic and administrative activities. That infrastructure includes a vast computing network, innovative administrative systems for fast, interactive access to academic and business information, library information access tools, high-technology classrooms designed to enhance learning, and mechanisms to ensure the security and integrity of these information resources.
"Gary Augustson has provided leadership for the development of an IT organization that is the envy of our peers across the nation," said Rodney A. Erickson, executive vice president and provost of the University. "A key to this success has been his vision for the many ways that information technology improves Penn State's ability to excel in teaching, research, and outreach."
Augustson's impact among his peers nationally is no less significant than the leadership he provided at Penn State. He helped spearhead higher education's national networking efforts and has played a key role shaping the position of colleges and universities on national information technology policy. Among his notable contributions, he chaired the Internet2 steering committee, which launched Internet2 in 1996.
In 2001, he was awarded Educause's Excellence in Leadership Award for his extraordinary effectiveness, influence, statesmanship and lifetime achievement both at Penn State and in the broader higher education community. Educause was one of several organizations that Augustson helped lead during his tenure at Penn State.
A specific date for the start of his retirement this summer will be set pending the development of a transition plan for the office. A national search for his replacement will be initiated in the coming weeks.
"I want us to change drivers and not slow down," said Augustson of the transition that lies ahead for the University's information technology operation. "You can only do that from a position of strength, and that's where we are at Penn State. I expect that someone can come in and take us to an even higher level going into the future."
As for his own future, Augustson and his wife, Jill, plan to spend more time with their two daughters and two grandchildren. He also looks forward to expanding his travel schedule, with the Caribbean, Colorado and Alaska among his most anticipated destinations.