Rob Thompson has been named as Wayne State’s chief information officer (CIO) and associate vice president for computing and information technology (C&IT) after holding the position in an interim capacity for the past two years.

“During his tenure as interim CIO, Rob has done an outstanding job guiding the campus through the IT transformations necessary to continue remote teaching, learning and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and managed vaccine and screener compliance as we returned to campus,” Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Kornbluh said.

Under Thompson’s leadership, C&IT has progressively improved cybersecurity. Key changes include implementation of two-factor authentication, strengthening IT security frameworks, and deploying a four-year computer replacement program for all colleges.

He also helped guide the development and launch of STARS 2.0, a modern advising and student success platform, and partnered with Midtown Detroit, Inc., to implement outdoor WiFi at cultural sites throughout the city.

Throughout his 25 years with the university, Thompson has been known for his collaborative and creative spirit. He brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to his role, with experience in databases, information technology management, data governance, business analytics, software development and infrastructure management.

As CIO, Thompson will be responsible for the university’s computing and networking facilities, datacenter operations, enterprise software applications, learning management environments, high-performance research computing, voice services, information security, and information technology support services.