Background

Alan facilitates and supports campus researchers use of IT services, particularly in support of the Arts and Humanities. Working with the University Research Computing Officer, he works with the Arts and Humanities Research Computing team establish services to address growing demand from the community. Previously, Alan was the Managing Director of Academic Technology in Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) at Harvard University. He collaborated with campus leaders to set vision and strategic directions for academic technologies across the institution, which encompasses both teaching & learning and research technology support. Alan and his team provided Harvard learning technology platforms, direct support for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, arts & humanities research computing support, and digital accessibility services. Before arriving at Harvard, Alan was the Assistant CIO for Advanced Computing Infrastructure at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and directed the UW – Madison Digital Media Center. His roles included coordinating campus research cyberinfrastructure strategy and developing research services for computing, networking, and research data storage and management, including electronic laboratory notebooks. He provided resources and support to enable the faculty to create digital materials to support their teaching and research. He created and taught a graduate course on effective teaching with technology. He was the principal investigator for National Science Foundation awards focusing on faculty and student use of technology in higher education. Alan is a herpetologist who received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Michigan. He studied the phylogenetics of North American bullfrogs and the phylogenetic informativeness of anuran vocalizations, while also developing expertise in molecular methods and computational bioinformatics.

Job experience

• February 2023 - January 2026
  Principal University Research Facilitator
  Harvard University
  

  Cambridge, MA, USA

  Alan facilitates and supports campus researchers use of IT services, particularly in support of the Arts and Humanities. Working with the University Research Computing Officer, he works with the Arts and Humanities Research Computing team establish services to address growing demand from the community.

• May 2015 - February 2023
  Managing Director Academic Technology
  Harvard University
  

  Cambridge, MA, USA

  He collaborated with campus leaders to set vision and strategic directions for academic technologies across the institution, which encompasses both teaching & learning and research technology support. Alan and his team provided Harvard learning technology platforms, direct support for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, arts & humanities research computing support, and digital accessibility services.

• October 1998 - May 2015
  Assistant CIO - Advanced Computing
  University of Wisconsin - Madison
  

  Madison, WI, USA

  Alan was the Assistant CIO for Advanced Computing Infrastructure at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and directed the UW – Madison Digital Media Center. His roles included coordinating campus research cyberinfrastructure strategy and developing research services for computing, networking, and research data storage and management, including electronic laboratory notebooks. He provided resources and support to enable the faculty to create digital materials to support their teaching and research. He created and taught a graduate course on effective teaching with technology. He was the principal investigator for National Science Foundation awards focusing on faculty and student use of technology in higher education.

Education

• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
  Ph.D. Biology
  

  1989 - 1996
• University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  B.S. Biology
  

  1984 - 1989