A message from Lois Brooks, vice provost for information technology and chief information officer:
As I’ve been reflecting on my time at UW–Madison as I prepare to retire, I’ve found myself focusing not on the projects we’ve accomplished together but on the extraordinary community we’ve strengthened.
When I arrived at UW–Madison 7 years ago, I was drawn by the university’s boundless drive for knowledge and innovation. What I discovered was something even more remarkable: a community of IT professionals who embody the Wisconsin Idea every single day, working tirelessly to improve lives well beyond our campus.
The heart of our IT community has always been our people. Through IT Connects, I’ve watched colleagues grow into confident leaders, launch innovative projects and build partnerships that span the entire university. You’ve reconfirmed to me that true leadership isn’t about titles or positions—it’s about leading from where you are to make things better for everyone around you.
Whether it was pivoting 9,000 courses online during the pandemic, building ResearchDrive to support groundbreaking research, or working together on countless projects and operations that support UW–Madison’s broad impacts, you’ve proven that IT is as strong as the relationships behind it.
I’m proud of the milestones we’ve achieved—strengthening our cybersecurity framework, modernizing our infrastructure, and positioning the university for the AI revolution ahead. But I’m most proud of how we’ve approached this work: collaboratively, thoughtfully and always with our mission at the center.
You’ve created a culture where innovation thrives, where questions are welcomed, and where everyone—from help desk staff to senior engineers—knows their voice matters. To the extent I had an impact on forming and nurturing that culture, I consider that my proudest legacy here, and it really belongs to all of you.
As I pass the torch to the next CIO, I’m confident about our future. The foundation we’ve built together is strong, and the community we’ve nurtured will continue to grow and flourish. Keep leading from where you are. Keep asking “what if?” Keep taking care of yourselves and each other with the same care and generosity you’ve shown me.
Thank you for 7 incredible years of partnership, growth and friendship.
With enduring gratitude and warm wishes for your continued success,
— Lois