Appointment of Donna Kidwell as Acting Chief Information Officer – Communications for Academic Administrators

From: Scott Mabury, Vice President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships
Date: August 9, 2024
Re: Appointment of Donna Kidwell as Acting Chief Information Officer
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Further to our July 4^th announcement of CIO Bo Wandschneider’s pending retirement, I am pleased to report that efforts to identify our new Chief Information Officer are underway in anticipation of Bo’s departure at the end of September. An external search firm is being engaged, and a search committee will soon be confirmed.

In the meantime, I am delighted to announce that Donna Kidwell, our newly appointed Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Deputy CIO, has agreed to serve as Acting CIO, effective October 1, 2024, until June 30, 2025 or the appointment of the permanent CIO, whichever comes first.

Donna’s arrival on May 27 was fortuitous, given Bo’s plans! With her previous leadership roles in information technology and security at both Arizona State University (ASU), an institution known for its innovative approach to education and technology, and the University of Texas, Austin, and a reputation for collaboration and strategic vision, I am confident that the IT@UofT is in qualified and capable hands.

While Donna takes on the leadership of the CIO portfolio, Deyves Fonseca, Associate Director, Information Security Operations and Deputy CISO has agreed to return as acting CISO, a role he undertook so ably following Isaac Straley’s departure in January.

I am grateful to Donna for assuming Acting CIO duties as we transition to our new IT leadership team, and to Bo for leading ITS through the past seven years of initiative, collaboration and growth.