IT Federation Program
The IT Federation program will strengthen how IT teams across the university work together, creating more opportunities to share expertise, align priorities and resources, and support each other more effectively.
IT Federation is part of UW–Madison’s broader Operational Excellence effort to continuously improve coordination and efficiency; consistency and customer service; transparency; and stewardship across administrative and technology services.
Our university, like all of higher education, is facing growing financial pressures; increased accountability expectations; rising cybersecurity and compliance demands; and rapid technological change, including artificial intelligence.
IT teams across the university are already rising to meet these challenges every day. IT Federation is designed to build on that momentum. By working together in more intentional and coordinated ways, we can move from a reactive posture to a proactive one — empowering our staff to tackle these complexities with greater collective strength.
What is a federated IT model?
A federated IT model brings together IT teams from across the university to work as partners: providers will collaborate on coordinated services and shared standards where they provide value, while local teams maintain appropriate flexibility to serve the unique needs of their communities.
While we’ve operated this way informally for years, the changes facing our university create an opportunity to be proactive and strengthen this partnership.
On this page
Federation in action
IT providers
- Balanced service delivery, with some services delivered at an enterprise scale and others delivered locally.
- New shared standards and coordination mechanisms to help us continue to cultivate strong partnerships and collaborations across service providers.
- Enhanced collaboration pathways between IT staff across the university, creating more opportunities for shared learning, knowledge sharing and partnership.
University mission
Focus resources and expertise where they have the greatest impact in support of teaching, research, outreach and administrative missions. Improve consistency in service experiences and reduce unnecessary complexity, while allowing flexibility and local expertise where mission needs require it. Strategic resource management to ensure good stewardship of university resources and financial sustainability for the long term.
Timeline
January 2026
Phase 1 begins
Benchmarking and Enterprise Services Work Groups start meeting.
April 2026
Phase 1 ends
Work groups share findings and recommendations.
May to June 2026
Phase 1 reflections.
Phase 2 planning.
July 2026 (tentative)
Phase 2 begins
Meet the program team
This effort extends beyond the Division of Information Technology and requires collaboration across technology service and resource providers. IT staff from across the university are represented in the working groups and program teams.
Project sponsors
| Role | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Program sponsor | Didier Contis | Vice Provost for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer |
| Executive sponsor | Rob Cramer | Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration |
| Executive sponsor | John Zumbrunnen | Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs |
Benchmarking Work Group
This work group will organize existing data to gain a better cross-university understanding of software, hardware, infrastructure and salary spending. This group will also organize selected industry benchmarks, identify potential optimization opportunities, and support the Enterprise Services Work Group in developing funding options for proposed services.
| Role | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Team member | Haley Bergsten | Strategic Initiatives Analyst, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration |
| Team member | Salima Currimbhoy | Administrative Innovation and Planning Representative |
| Team member | Catharine DeRubeis | Office of Human Resources Representative |
| Team co-lead | Sarah Hart McGuinnis | Chief Financial Officer, DoIT |
| Team member | Jenny Kvistad | Chief Adviser to the Deputy Chief Information Office, DoIT |
| Team member | Noah Natzke | Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research Representative |
| Team co-lead | Dave Pagenkopf | Deputy Chief Information Officer, DoIT |
| Team member | Matt Prough | IT Director, College of Letters & Science, Distributed IT representative |
| Team member | Colleen Reilly | Campus Purchasing Representative, DoIT |
| Team member | Suzanne Schlecht | Madison Budget Office Representative |
| Consulting partner | Patrick Stensloff | Assistant Director of Purchasing Services, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration |
| Consulting partner | Lori Voss | Procurement Director, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration |
| Consulting partner | Additional Business Services partners |
Enterprise Services Work Group
This work group will propose three to five new or improved common enterprise services, along with requirements for managing, supporting and operating each service. This group is also piloting new collaborative decision-making approaches that engage both distributed and central IT leaders.
| Role | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Facilitator | Kelvin Alfaro | Internal Consultant, Office of Strategic Consulting |
| Team member | Pete Boguszewski | Chief Information Officer, School of Education |
| Team member | Sean Bossinger | Chief Information Officer, UW School of Veterinary Medicine and UW Veterinary Medical Center |
| Team member | Jamie Gutkowski | Director, DoIT User Services |
| Team member | Jeff Korab | Senior Director of IT, School of Medicine & Public Health |
| Team member | Deanna Schneider | Director, Office of Digital Solutions, Division of Extension |
| Team member | Todd Shechter | Chief Technology Officer, DoIT |
| Team member | Tadd Smejkal | Director, DoIT Systems Engineering & Operations |
| Team member | Anand Vangipuram | Director, DoIT Enterprise Business Systems |
| Team member | Tamara Walker | Associate Vice Provost for Learning Technologies & Director, DoIT Academic Technology |
| Team member | Mark Wegener | IT Director, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research |
Phase 1 Program Launch team
This team organizes and drives the program launch process, incorporating consultation and feedback from campus stakeholders.
| Role | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Team member | Lauren Bruce | Interim Director, DoIT Communications |
| Program leader | Jamie Gutkowski | Director, DoIT User Services |
| Team member | Jenny Kvistad | Chief Adviser to the Deputy Chief Information Officer, DoIT |
| Team member | Bobby Jo Morse | Director, DoIT Portfolio & Project Management Office |
| Team member | Todd Shechter | Chief Technology Officer, DoIT |
Program Support team
This team brings clarity and structure to the program through engagement, communication and change management efforts. They support the Enterprise and Benchmarking work groups and find opportunities for the IT community to engage in program activities.
| Role | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Facilitator | Kelvin Alfaro | Internal Consultant, Office of Strategic Consulting |
| Team member | Ching-Tzu Chien | Senior IT Project Manager, DoIT Portfolio & Project Management Office |
| Organizational Change Manager | Crague Cook | Organizational Change Manager, DoIT Portfolio & Project Management Office |
| Program manager | Dana Green | IT Program Manager, University Health Services |
| Communications | Brianna Kuhn | Communications Specialist, DoIT Communications |
| Business Analyst | Jeanette School | Senior Business Analyst, DoIT Portfolio & Project Management Office |
Updates
-
IT Federation phase 1 outcomes, program reports
The summary of IT Federation phase 1 results and outcomes — including links to full core reports, reference materials, and FAQs from both work groups — is now available. Explore these documents…
-
IT Federation Program: Phase 1 updates
Since launching in January 2026, the IT Federation Program has been establishing its initial foundations. Get an inside look at the work completed during phase 1 and a preview of what to…
Contact us
Stay updated and engaged
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest project news and updates, and to learn about engagement opportunities.
Get in touch
We’re here to help. Feel free to ask us anything or share your thoughts.