The University of Arizona has named Elliott Cheu as interim chief information officer, responsible for leading university information technology services, the centralized IT system.
As a University Distinguished Professor of Physics, Cheu “is an accomplished scientist and educator, in addition to his well-earned reputation as an exemplary administrative leader,” UA President Suresh Garimella said in a news release Friday.
Chief Information Officer Barry Brummund announced his retirement in November.
“The University of Arizona’s success as a student-centered research university depends upon a robust and adaptive information technology environment,” Cheu said in the news release.
His responsibilities in the interim role will include reviewing the university’s information technology needs, such as looking into the IT division’s collaboration with academic colleges and other units, while prioritizing advancement of high-performance computing, modernizing financial and HR systems, and addressing remaining centralization and coordination needs.
The UA will conduct a national search to permanently fill the position.
The transition to centralized IT has been controversial. The General Faculty Committee on Information Technology reported last March that it was negatively affecting research and grants, which UA officials said was false.
Cheu will make $420,000, similar to Brummund’s $423,887 when he had the role.
Cheu, who served as associate vice president for research centers and institutes, has been appointed to other interim roles in the past.
Most recently, Cheu served as interim senior vice president for research and innovation, a position permanently filled on Oct. 29 by Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Garimella’s former colleague at Purdue University.
