Office of the CIO forms new Enterprise AI team

The Office of the Chief Information Officer has launched the Enterprise AI group to coordinate enterprise artificial intelligence services and support responsible adoption of AI for administrative and operational uses across Illinois. The group will work with colleges and units to identify shared needs, develop services that can be used across the university, and help faculty and staff use AI effectively in their administrative and professional work. 

Enterprise Architect Mary Stevens will serve as executive sponsor, providing strategic leadership and aligning the group’s work with university priorities. Jake Myers will guide day-to-day coordination, help set priorities, and build campus partnerships. Luanne Mayorga, Assistant Chancellor for Human Resources Strategy and Planning, will also join the Office of the CIO in a part-time appointment to help lead the development of a framework for the use of AI in administration.

The group’s initial work will focus on: 

  • University-wide AI services: Identify and coordinate enterprise AI tools and services that address administrative and operational needs shared by colleges and units. 
  • AI literacy and adoption support: Help faculty and staff understand the capabilities and limitations of enterprise AI tools, evaluate their appropriate use, and incorporate them effectively into administrative and professional work. 
  • Responsible-use guidance: Work with campus partners to address security, privacy, accessibility, compliance and other considerations that shape appropriate use of enterprise AI services. 
  • Campus engagement: Gather ideas, needs and feedback from colleges and units to help determine priorities and guide the development of shared administrative and enterprise AI services. 
  • Coordination with campus partners: Work with Teaching and Learning, Research, governance, security, privacy and other campus partners where AI needs and services intersect, while respecting the distinct roles and expertise of those communities. 

The group builds on AI efforts already underway across campus. Its role is to connect and support enterprise and administrative AI efforts, identify opportunities for shared services and help the university make coordinated decisions about where to invest in enterprise AI capabilities. The group will partner with the Teaching and Learning and Research communities where their work intersects, rather than assuming responsibility for AI strategy or practices within those domains. Priorities and services will continue to develop as campus needs become clearer and AI capabilities evolve. 

Lance Bolton named Deputy Chief Information Officer for Campus Engagement

Following a national search, Lance Bolton has been selected as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s inaugural Deputy Chief Information Officer for Campus Engagement. Lance will join Technology Services on Aug. 10.

lance bolton

Lance brings more than 20 years of higher education technology leadership experience at the University of Iowa, where he built a strong reputation for fostering collaboration, strengthening governance, and aligning technology strategy across a complex and highly distributed institution.

Most recently, Lance served as Senior Director of Information Technology – Partnerships & Collaboration, reporting to the University of Iowa’s chief information officer. In that role, he strengthened partnerships between central and distributed IT organizations, improved campuswide communication and accountability, and helped guide technology priorities across the institution. He also developed the Core | Common | Unique framework, an approach to service ownership, prioritization, and investment that has become a foundational part of Iowa’s collaborative IT strategy.

Earlier in his career, Lance led the University of Iowa’s research technology organization, overseeing research computing, storage, and compliance services. He also spent more than a decade leading technology services for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the university’s largest academic college. He holds a master’s degree in global security with a cybersecurity focus from Arizona State University.

As Deputy CIO for Campus Engagement, Lance will serve as a senior leader within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, working to strengthen communication, collaboration, and strategic alignment among Technology Services, colleges, schools, and administrative units. He will help advance shared governance, support strategic planning and prioritization, build strong campus partnerships, and lead initiatives that promote transparency and collaboration in support of Illinois’ missions of learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development.

Lance’s experience building partnerships between centralized and distributed IT organizations will be instrumental as Illinois continues advancing the goals of Boldly Illinois and Boldly IT. His collaborative leadership style and deep understanding of research university environments will help strengthen our technology community and support the university’s continued success.

Office of the CIO
1304 W. Springfield Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
217-244-7000