Academics

2012 IT Impact Award winners named

During last month's IT Matters speaker series, Penn State recognized the outstanding efforts of 12 information technology professionals who have taken leadership roles in creating a thriving environment for IT collaboration, creativity and innovation. Thanks to the dedication of these individuals, Penn State community members are able to connect to a wide range of emerging technologies essential in higher education today. Kevin Morooney, vice provost for Information Technology, presented the annual IT Impact Awards in the following mission-critical areas:

IT collaboration

This award recognizes a group of individuals leading cross-administrative area initiatives that benefit the University as a whole, or positively impact the lives of Penn State's customers. This year’s award recipients represent the IT Project Management Leadership Group.

- Beth Hayes, project manager, Digital Library Technologies
- Mark Linton, manager of Network Development Engineering, ITS Telecommunications and Networking Services
- Julia (Suzanne) Wayne, associate director of Communications in the College of Education
- Dave McCobin, information technology manager, ITS Telecommunications and Networking Services
- Kathy Plavko (retired March 2012 ), project management office director, Administrative Information Services

Resource responsibility

This award recognizes individuals who make a significant contribution in reducing or consolidating the IT resources used in delivering IT services to Penn State. The following award recipients make up the Strategic Information Management Systems (SIMS) group -- a team tasked with the development of Penn State’s grant proposal system.

- Chris Lose, lead applications programmer and assistant director, Office of Research Information Systems
- Niki Page, lead contract and proposal specialist, Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office
- Christy Shaw-Godinez, associate coordinator, Grants and Contracts, Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office
- Heather Mann, associate coordinator, Grants and Contracts, Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office
- Michael Whyte, programmer/analyst, Office of Research Information Systems

Out-of-the-box innovation

This award recognizes individuals who develop and institute innovative approaches to solving IT issues.

- Bryan Ollendyke, instructional web technology specialist, e-Learning Institute
- Ryan Davisson, systems administrator, ITS at Penn State Harrisburg

For photographs of the Spring 2012 IT Impact Award recipients, visit http://it.psu.edu/connects/recognizes/recipients2012.php.

Last Updated January 9, 2015