Villanova University appoints Tej Patel as new CIO to lead IT strategy and infrastructure
Villanova University has announced the appointment of Tej Patel as its new Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer effective 9 September.
University President, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, expressed his enthusiasm for Patel’s appointment, stating, “The importance of a strong IT strategy and infrastructure on university campuses cannot be overstated, which is why I am delighted to have someone with Tej’s experience and vision at the helm of our IT department.
“Tej’s extensive and varied IT knowledge will be invaluable to Villanova as we seek to enhance all aspects of our IT infrastructure and governance. I look forward to working with him as a member of my University leadership team.”
As the Vice President for Information Technology and CIO, Patel will be responsible for overseeing Villanova’s overall technology strategy. His role will involve supporting teaching, learning, research, operations, and the student experience.
Key responsibilities include enhancing coordination across all IT services, engaging with stakeholders to identify technological needs, and leveraging technology to create intuitive, consistent service experiences for all university community members.
In addition to these responsibilities, Patel will focus on expanding opportunities to integrate technology into teaching and research, completing the University’s transition to a new learning management system, upgrading classroom technology, and enhancing research computing capabilities. Patel will also work to improve IT planning and governance processes, supporting Villanova’s commitment to shared governance.
"Villanova is a vibrant and forward-thinking institution, and I’m truly honoured to become a part of this remarkable community," said Patel.
"I am excited to represent and work alongside the talented technology team at Villanova, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across campus—from Father Peter and the leadership team to the board of trustees, deans, alumni, faculty, staff, and students. As Villanova’s Strategic Plan underscores, together let us become what we are not yet."
Patel joins Villanova from Stevens Institute of Technology, where he served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. At Stevens, he led significant improvements in the IT organisation, including enhancing processes, defining shared values, and investing in new capabilities. Patel also guided multiple university-wide initiatives, such as deploying an identity and access management system, instituting new data governance and reporting capabilities, and overseeing enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations. His efforts also improved communication between the IT department and its users, and he played a key role in redeveloping infrastructure and security strategies.
Roger Demareski, Villanova University Executive Vice President, who led the search, said, "I am thrilled to welcome Tej to Villanova and look forward to working closely with him as he guides the University’s information technology strategy into the future. Throughout the process, we were extremely impressed with Tej’s background and experience, his proven ability to build strong teams and deliver high customer service, and his knowledge of best practices, regulatory requirements, and emerging technologies."
