University of Oklahoma CIO departs for Penn State role

The Pennsylvania State University named its new chief information officer on Thursday following a four month search to fill the position.

David Horton, who grew up in Pennsylvania, will start his new role on a part-time basis before joining full time no later than June 1, according to the university. He most recently worked for five years as chief information officer and senior associate vice president at the University of Oklahoma.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to return to Pennsylvania and work alongside the strong community of IT professionals at Penn State, providing efficient, secure, reliable and innovative technology services to our students, faculty and staff,” Horton said in a press release. “In this way, we are helping to enhance the positive impact that Penn State and our alumni create every day across the globe.”  

While working at the University of Oklahoma, Horton is credited with reducing IT costs, establishing a new model for IT governance, updating and consolidating IT policies across the system, overseeing cybersecurity improvements and securing research computing investments. 

Horton will oversee Penn State IT, which is the university’s central IT unit, and lead 1,200 IT professionals across all colleges, campuses and administrative units, according to the release. He will report to Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance and business at Penn State.

“David brings a wealth of experience and expertise with him as he takes the helm of Penn State’s IT operations. His track record and dedication will serve him well in this critical leadership role,” said Thorndike. “We’re excited to welcome David to the University and very much look forward to working with him as he provides innovative, strategic IT direction University-wide.”

Horton is succeeding Chris Lucas, who served as Penn State’s CIO in an interim capacity since October, after former university CIO Keith Brautigam departed the role following a criminal complaint filed against him for an alleged domestic dispute. Lucas will remain at the university in his role as associate vice president for academic technology and customer experience, the release said.