In today’s world, technology is essential, and the demand for technological advancements is ever-growing. is no exception.
Sameer Jaleel, associate chief information officer (CIO), and his team at Kent State are tasked with the job of building innovative software for the university from scratch while also ensuring stewardship over essential enterprise technologies that enable Kent State business processes. From developing systems like FlashLine and the KSUMobile app to ensuring a positive user experience across Kent State’s digital resources, they’re involved in it all.
Jaleel’s hard work at Kent State certainly does not go unnoticed. In the beginning of the year, Jaleel was featured in an article in CIO, a digital magazine known for its expertise on technology and information technology. More recently, Jaleel was featured on a CyberWire Daily podcast where he discussed developing a safer digital environment for students.
In the CIO article, Jaleel touched on his IT resolutions for Kent State in 2023 and spoke on how the pandemic has affected the use of technology. His expert knowledge on these topics landed him a spot among other top CIOs in the United States.
But, what do these resolutions mean for Kent State’s faculty, staff and students?
For Jaleel, it’s all about having conversations, solving problems and re-imagining solutions.
“One way we are thinking in a strategic mindset is by getting conversations started with the various departments and academic areas on campus. And it's not always about getting conversations started,” Jaleel said. “Sometimes, the conversations are already happening, and we're trying to get a seat at the table to understand and learn what objectives they are driving. Then we can determine how we can partner and help using technology.”
Jaleel said the pandemic forced IT experts to think in a reactive mindset instead of a strategic mindset and how dealing with the challenges of the pandemic have changed his future IT resolutions.
“What was scary is much more manageable now because the more you talk about it, the more solutions start to get identified. So, are there risks? Absolutely,” Jaleel said. “But we have to expect it and be prepared for it. That's the thing that's changed.”
As Kent State moves away from needing technology to adapt to the unexpected difficulties that come with remote and hybrid workspaces, Jaleel and his team can now focus their attention elsewhere.
Some of their projects include auditing Kent State’s digital services, ensuring favorable user experience and creating strategic roadmaps to re-imagine popular digital resources for students such as FlashLine or the KSUMobile app.
For university staff and faculty, Jaleel and his team have been conducting focus groups and working with departments on campus to improve their digital user accessibility experience.
Across the entire university, Jaleel prioritizes digital security, usability and crafting solutions that fit the university’s needs, not the other way around.
“We're trying to be a good business partner. We're not trying to enforce solutions. The two main areas where we really have to enforce them: digital security and accessibility or usability,” Jaleel said. “We still want to be a part of the conversation to make sure our interests are maintained.”
But, above all, Jaleel has taken what he learned from the challenges of the pandemic and paired that with his passion for problem solving. His IT resolutions for the university are deliberate, strategic and focused on moving forward.
“One of the biggest highs I get out of this job is solving problems for our people, our departments, our students, etc. We’re innovating, but not just for the sake of innovation. We’re making a difference and we were doing that in a different way during the pandemic,” Jaleel said. “2023 is about taking stock and making sure the plans that we're drawing with the rest of the university are in harmony with their needs.”
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