Dartmouth hires Isaacson, Miller for CIO search

Dartmouth College has retained Isaacson, Miller to recruit a chief information officer who will have to align technology priorities across a campus where IT staff sit both in the central technology organization and inside professional schools and administrative departments, according to Hunt Scanlon Media and Inside Higher Ed.

Becca Kennedy is leading the search with Kristen Andersen and Ryan Smillie. The CIO will lead Dartmouth’s Information, Technology & Consulting organization and report to provost Santiago Schnell, whom Isaacson, Miller also recently recruited.

The role spans enterprise technology, cybersecurity, research computing and business transformation. It includes responsibility for technology governance, resource allocation and operational resilience, alongside aligning technology investments with academic, research and administrative priorities.

Dartmouth seeks candidates with experience leading complex technology organizations, ideally in an academic or research setting. The requirements include a record of organizational transformation, financial stewardship and talent development, as well as the ability to communicate across technical and nontechnical audiences.

Erin DeSilva, senior associate provost for learning innovation, told Inside Higher Ed that the next CIO will need to reconcile the provost’s priorities with the needs of embedded IT units and work with both technology teams and nontechnical leaders. DeSilva identified AI strategy among the institution’s technology priorities.

First-year success should include establishing and communicating a vision, building relationships and aligning resources behind a central IT strategy, DeSilva said. Over three years, she expects the CIO to shape governance and align staff with Dartmouth’s priorities. Despite flexibility in day-to-day arrangements, the role is in-person in Hanover, N.H.