As CFAES starts implementing the CFAES IT Transformation workforce plan, we are excited to announce the leadership team for the new CFAES IT Services. This new team will collaborate with Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) staff to provide a combined IT Services Portfolio for CFAES.
Michael Chakerian has been appointed to director of information technology. In this role, he will establish the overall strategic direction for computing support for CFAES, direct a portfolio of college-provided IT services, manage the SLA relationship with OCIO, and lead the IT portion of building projects. He also will serve as part of the associate dean for operations’ leadership team.
Michael joined Ohio State in 1996 as a member of University Technology Services (now Office of the CIO) where he served as a support specialist. In 1999, he joined CFAES as a systems manager with the Department of Animal Sciences. Michael has carried a joint appointment with the broader CFAES IT Services team since May 2015, where he worked to improve core services to several CFAES buildings on the Columbus campus as well as serving on committees tasked with shaping the university’s IT strategy. In 2012, Michael received the Distinguished Staff Award for accomplishments, leadership and contributions to The Ohio State University.
Matt DeVore has been appointed to director of application services. In this role, he will lead the CFAES local applications strategy, lead a portfolio of college-provided local applications services, and partner with CFAES and the Office of Distance Education and eLearning on support for the Digital Flagship.
Matt joined Ohio State in 2001 at OARDC, where he served as a systems developer/engineer. Since then he has taken on additional responsibilities and leadership, serving as the head of OARDC Wooster IT and in 2015 serving as the college’s chief information officer (CIO). As CIO, he provided overall strategic direction for information technology services across the college.
Mike and Matt will provide leadership as part of CFAES’s new IT Services team focused on support for research and local applications. Research support includes instrumentation specific consultation, high-performance computing, research file storage, research network support, research data management, security and compliance, specialized computer needs, and consultation. Local applications include purchased or custom software, software as a service, or mobile apps that college units adopt to support college administrative, academic, research administration, and extension functions.
These leadership appointments are effective immediately.