Columbus State University (CSU) in Columbus, Ga., announced that it has made significant changes to its IT leadership by appointing both a new CIO and CISO. The university has appointed Theodore Laskaris as CIO and Nicol Lewis as CISO.
“A reliable and secure technology infrastructure is critical in today’s higher education setting,” said Dr. Deborah Bordelon, CSU’s provost and executive vice president. “The roles of a CIO and CISO differ in their focus, but collaborate in ways that underscore the ever-growing importance of highly functional, highly secure computing networks to universities like Columbus State.”
The university said Laskaris and Lewis “will work in tandem to serve and secure the university’s network services,” which support more than 10,000 students and employees.
Laskaris is already familiar with the CIO role, having served as interim CIO since July 2019. The university said Laskaris will be responsible for developing “organizational technology growth and renewal strategy that drives digital adoption, transforms business processes, and optimizes the digital user experience.”
Prior to joining CSU, Laskaris served as CIO for Champlain College in Burlington, Vt. He has also held various IT positions in the private sector.
Lewis replaces Loretta Marshall, who served as CSU’s interim CISO. The CISO position is based in the school’s Office of Legal Affairs, Ethics and Compliance and is responsible for ensuring that the university’s academic and operational data is protected within the bounds of CSU and University System of Georgia information security policies. Lewis will also be responsible for working with CSU’s executive leadership to help mitigate cyber risks by establishing and maintaining a university-wide information security management program.
Lewis previously served as CISO for the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, and held IT position at the Georgia Technology Authority and Georgia Public Library Service.
