A message from Didier Contis, vice provost for information technology and chief information officer:
As I pass my 1-month mark as the university’s chief information officer, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve discovered about this university and community. UW–Madison is a large and complex institution, and I’m learning that some of the most valuable insights come from unexpected interactions outside of my (many) meetings.
The warm welcome I’ve received has been remarkable. From impromptu conversations at the bus stop or in hallways around campus to visiting with teams in the Middleton building, everyone has been generous with their time, ideas and perspectives. I’ve been impressed by my early conversations with Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen and Vice Chancellor Rob Cramer, and I value the thoughtful, collaborative approach they’ve brought to this transition.
I’m also starting to feel more like a Badger, though I still have plenty to learn. I am now in Workday, have my Wiscard, and even applied for parking despite not yet having an automobile (everyone keeps telling me parking is tricky here). My family visited from Atlanta in July, and we spent a Saturday evening at the Memorial Union enjoying Babcock ice cream while listening to music. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve enjoyed Babcock ice cream in 1 month, but it’s safe to say it’s one of my favorite things about campus so far, especially the Orange Custard Chocolate Chip flavor.
Joining the IT community
These small milestones matter because they represent something larger: I’m not just learning about UW–Madison’s technology infrastructure, I’m becoming part of this community.
The CIO Virtual Office Hours have been particularly valuable for connecting with the people who make up our IT community. With due credit and thanks to my co-host, Chief Technology Officer Todd Shechter, our Friday morning conversations have given me a window into the collaborative approach that defines IT work here. I’ve enjoyed how wide-ranging the topics and discussions have been, and I hope you’ve gotten as much out of them as I have.
What’s been particularly striking is how eager people are to engage and share their expertise and ideas for how the community can work together on new and longstanding challenges.
Looking ahead: Listening sessions this fall
This brings me to something I’m excited to share with you: This fall, members of my team and I will launch a series of listening sessions for the university IT community. I look forward to this opportunity to meet you, hear your perspectives and learn from your experiences. There will be ample opportunities to participate and share your insights, questions and priorities.
We are working to offer both virtual and in-person options from October through early December, with in-person sessions distributed across campus to make participation as equitable and accessible as possible.
The goal is simple: I want to hear from you. What’s working well here? What are your biggest challenges? What are the university’s emerging IT needs?
Stay tuned for an announcement with dates, times and how to participate. Whether you’re managing IT at a school or college, supporting research computing, providing help desk support to students and staff, or helping faculty integrate new technologies into their teaching, your voice matters in shaping our path forward together.
Building on strong foundations
As I’ve gotten to know this community over the past month, what impresses me most is the combination of technical expertise and genuine commitment to the university’s mission that I see everywhere. The people I meet aren’t just solving technology problems—they’re thinking strategically about how technology can better serve students, faculty, researchers and staff.
I’m also struck by the collaborative spirit that exists across our distributed IT community. The willingness to share knowledge, support each other’s initiatives and think beyond individual teams or departments speaks to something special about how technology professionals approach their work here. That spirit of collaboration will be key as we welcome thousands of new and returning Badgers to campus for the fall semester.
I’m still meeting new faces, still getting settled, and still discovering what makes UW–Madison so remarkable. But one thing I know for sure: the conversations we have in the coming months will shape the decisions we make in support of the university’s mission for years to come. I’m looking forward to it.
— Didier