Brian Haugabrook, Valdosta State University’s chief information officer, was selected as IDG’s Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2015.

“This is an outstanding recognition and testimony to the quality of the service and contributions that Brian and his team make to the VSU and IT community,” said VSU Provost Hudson Rogers. “VSU values Brian’s leadership and the dedication and hard work of the IT department.”   

This year’s recognition honors information technology professionals from both the technology and business sides of companies and organizations for their exceptional technology leadership and innovative approaches to business challenges.

“It is an honor to receive this award and it reflects on VSU’s great IT team and not myself. This is a great achievement for the Information Technology division,” said Haugabrook, who was appointed CIO at VSU on July 1, 2014. “The hard work of the many IT professionals that provide support and innovative use of technology sets VSU apart. This is evident by the numerous awards and accomplishments over the past two years.”

Recently the Information Technology Helpdesk was honored by the University System of Georgia as a Gold recipient for the Chancellor’s Excellence Contact Center Team Award, for its efficient and dedicated service to students, faculty, and staff.

“I encourage everyone to reach their greatest potential and think beyond traditional approaches. Although our team and resources are not large, we can compete on a global scale by working together as a team,” said Haugabrook, who currently serving on the USG’s Executive Leadership Institute, which enhances leadership skills of USG faculty and administrators. “I am fortunate to have staff who are passionate and dedicated to improving our university. The support of our university president, Dr. [William J.] McKinney, to allow creativity and innovative ideas will continue to improve our technology and support for student success.”

Haugabrook joined VSU in 2004 and has advanced within Information Technology as programmer, systems analyst, and director of the data warehouse.

While at VSU, he has helped develop the university’s first financial analytics reporting system, secured more than $500,000 in software to expand information technology solutions to support student engagement, and developed the university’s nationally recognized data warehouse.

Haugabrook was featured in Computerworld’s online magazine earlier this year for his work in designing and implementing VSU’s data warehouse. As part of the Complete College Georgia initiative, the data warehouse is a system that provides faculty with real-time data on students who are at risk or not progressing academically. Within the first two years of implementation, VSU has documented an overall 3 to 4 percent increase in retention rates, and within the faculty who are measured using the system frequently, the retention rate jumped to 4 percent within one year. 

Haugabrook will be officially recognized at the AGENDA15 conference March 30-April 1 in Amelia Island, Fla. For more information on the recognition, visit Computerworld’s website http://www.idgenterprise.com/press/business-and-digital-transformation-recognized-by-computerworlds-2015-premier-100-award