Panel: NYS Investments: Digital Transformation and Student Success
Panel Moderator: Kim Scalzo
Tracks: Online Student Support, Online Admin/Leadership
Panelists:
Brian Digman is the Chief Information Officer for the State of New York University Administration responsible for system-wide technology development and support. His portfolio includes SUNY’s transformational Online initiative, which will use technology to scale SUNY’s high-quality programs through a system-wide, seamless and digital student experience. Brian joined SUNY in September 2018 following a 30-year career of progressively responsible leadership roles focused on transforming the business of government. As Chief Information Officer for the State of New York he was responsible for restructuring technology platforms, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in operational efficiencies while simultaneously delivering on major State policy goals ranging from economic development and public safety to the environment and social services. As Director of IT Services at the NYS Thruway Authority, Brian developed the Authority’s multiyear strategic plan for incorporating cutting-edge connected vehicle technologies into the Authority’s day-to-day operations, with a focus on cashless tolling and driver safety. Prior to that, Brian led the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance’s modernization of the State’s ecosystem of tax administration processes using innovations such as predictive analytics, electronic filing and high-speed processing, which has saved New York State over $250 million, annually.
Donna Linderman is the SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success. Linderman previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the City University of New York (CUNY). Over the last fifteen years, Linderman has led the design and implementation of nation-leading student success initiatives. Linderman is a principal architect of the design and scaling of the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) model, which has been shown in rigorous, randomized, controlled trial evaluations to double community college completion rates and has been successfully replicated at campuses in New York and other states, including SUNY’s Westchester Community College. Linderman also led the development and execution of CUNY Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE), ASAP at four-year institutions, along with CUNY Start, a nationally recognized initiative to help first-year students with academic gaps successfully enter and succeed in college, and has led successful CUNY system-wide initiatives to improve completion by strengthening academic momentum, reform developmental education, improve educational and employment outcomes for student fathers, and more. Linderman began her academic career as an Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College and holds a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California, an MFA in Theatre from Brooklyn College, and will defend her dissertation for an EdD in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University this spring. LinkedIn
Valerie P. Dent is the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Deputy for Student Success for SUNY System Administration. In her role, she is responsible for providing senior leadership and guidance to the newly formed and wide-ranging student success portfolio, which includes enrollment management, university life and opportunity programs, prison education, transfer initiatives, the Center for Professional Development, and the creation and expansion of evidence-based workforce and degree-completion programs. Prior to joining SUNY, Valerie served as first deputy commissioner of the NYS Division of Human Rights. She has also held a variety of public and private sector leadership roles, including at IBM; the law firm of Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander, and Ferdon; Grand Central Partnership; Bryant Park Restoration Corporation; 34th Street Partnership; and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone. Valerie is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she holds a degree in economics, and Columbia University School of Law, where she earned her J.D.
