UCSB Information Technology

Last week, UCSB IT hosted the first-ever Internship Program Poster Session, marking the conclusion of an incredible year of learning, innovation, and professional growth for the 2024-25 IT intern cohort. Our interns showcased their projects, shared their insights, and demonstrated the technical and analytical skills they developed throughout the program. This cohort brought a remarkable range of talents and perspectives—athletes, creatives, international scholars, and problem-solvers—each contributing to the success of the program in unique ways. Their dedication to learning, adaptability, and collaboration will undoubtedly serve them well in their future careers. A sincere thank you to these internship graduates and everyone who made this experience possible, from mentors and colleagues to the ITS leadership team. We look forward to seeing where these talented individuals go next!

Fiscal year 2023-24 was marked by tremendous growth for Information Technology Services, both in the number of significant projects we have undertaken and in our development as a unified and effective central IT organization. Read the Annual Report to explore how our efforts have driven meaningful impact across UC Santa Barbara in teaching, research, and public service: https://lnkd.in/gs2tE-qq

Congratulations to ITS Director of Process Management Katie Mankins and her team of wonderful volunteers for creating the first #ProcessParadise at UCSB!! Proud of these efforts to deliver more efficient and effective operations on our campus and to be good stewards of our resources. Thanks as well to leaders like Ann-Marie Musto and Leesa Beck who are partners in bringing a people and process-first mentality to all we do here at UCSB!

I recently had the privilege of joining all of our UCSB Information Technology Services staff for a week of onsite activities with the theme "Foward Together". As an organization recently consolidated from several distinct campus units we are building new practices to ensure that we are unified around our common mission, vision, and values (Together), and that we are prepared to develop the future of technology for UCSB (Forward). The week emphasized our vision for the future and strengthening our culture. We were privileged to hear from Professor Paul Leonardi from UCSB's Techology Management department, Tom Andriola from UC Irvine, and leaders from UCSB Athletics. We hosted team meetings, organizational and technology seminars, engagements with our campus partners, and other activities. Long-time colleagues were able to reconnect and staff who had never been to UCSB were able to experience the beautiful and diverse community that we serve. For a workforce with a significant percentage of remote and hybrid employees this week was something of a stretch but the response was overwhelmingly positive. My favorite comment from the week was the member of our team who came up and shared the benefits he had received from the experience, finishing by saying "Thank you. We didn't know how much we needed this." Thanks to all of our team who worked so hard to prepare for this week and to make it successful. Forward Together!!

Join UC Santa Barbara Women in Technology, Girls Who Code, and Women in Computer Science for a panel discussion this Wednesday, October 16 at 12pm in Loma Pelona 1100! Hear from five inspiring women as they discuss their experiences, challenges, and triumphs navigating the tech landscape. This event is ideal for anyone seeking guidance as they transition into a tech career, advance in their current roles, or deepen their understanding of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. #UCSB #womeninSTEM #professionaldevelopment

This past week, UC Santa Barbara staff gathered on our beautiful campus for the third Financial Management Modernization (FMM) Project Team On-Site Week, hosted by ITS and FARM. We are grateful for the many #UCSB staff and contractors who participated in three full days of in-person meetings, insightful team discussions, and staff engagement activities. Go gauchos!

Every year, the UC Tech Awards Program honors UC staff and faculty members who have made significant contributions to high-impact technology initiatives that drive digital transformation. Award categories include innovation, DEI leadership, security, collaboration, operational excellence, and more. We invite you to nominate an individual or team from UC Santa Barbara to be recognized for one of these distinguished awards, which will be presented at this year's UC Tech conference from October 27-29. Please note that the submission window has been extended and nominations are now due by Wednesday, May 8. Learn more about award details, eligibility, and how to submit a nomination: https://lnkd.in/g5SFzRn2

We're excited to announce the UC Santa Barbara Artificial Intelligence (AI) Spring Symposium taking place from May 20-24! This weeklong event is a campuswide opportunity to exchange ideas about productive and ethical AI use and explore the benefits of AI in learning, research, and workplace environments. All UCSB community members are welcome to submit proposals for a presentation, workshop, panel, or poster/video to share at this event. Proposals are due by Friday, April 26 and can be submitted here: https://lnkd.in/g7i2kYeg. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to share your #AI insights with our #UCSB community!

Yesterday, we had the privilege of welcoming Molly Greek, Chief Information Officer for UC Office of the President, to the UC Santa Barbara campus. During her visit, she delivered an IT Connections presentation on UC career advancement and DEI initiatives, and shared more about her personal career experiences and perspectives at a luncheon with UCSB Women in IT and the Professional Women’s Association. A huge thanks to Molly for fostering these insightful discussions on career growth and diversity within the UC community, and to the many staff members who were able to join us! #UCSB #IT #networking #WomenInSTEM

We are thrilled to announce Ann Crawford, a dedicated database developer in Information Technology Services’ Data Services and Business Intelligence unit, has been selected as UC Santa Barbara's recipient of the 2024 UC Women Rock IT recognition. This distinction is a testament to her skill, commitment, and meaningful contributions to campus IT. We’d also like to recognize the number of talented women from our IT community who were nominated for this honor. These nominations highlight the valuable impact of women in technology and celebrate the inclusive and empowering environment that exists at UCSB. Congratulations to Ann and all the nominees! Learn more about Ann and the rest of the nominees: https://lnkd.in/gxggnxFY #UCSB #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInSTEM #IT