Marymount University has promoted Carl Whitman to Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO). This appointment represents the institution’s commitment to digital transformation and technological innovation.
Whitman, who has served as Marymount’s Associate Vice President of Information Technology and CIO since May 2020, will continue to lead the University’s efforts to advance its IT infrastructure, expand cybersecurity measures, implement cutting-edge technologies and adopt artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency and student success, while now also serving in President Irma Becerra’s Cabinet.
“This strategic elevation reflects Carl’s exceptional leadership and emphasizes the critical role of technology in shaping Marymount’s future,” President Becerra said. “As we celebrate 75 years of excellence, we continue to embrace opportunities to strengthen our organization, enhance our leadership and move forward with purpose. We are excited to see valued team members like Carl step into new roles and responsibilities that will help advance our mission.”
Since joining Marymount in 2020, Whitman has played a pivotal role in the University’s digital transformation. This was most notably demonstrated through the full-scale implementation of Workday, an integrated enterprise resource planning system that includes human capital, finance and student modules. Its successful launch positions the University as a modern, cloud-based technology solutions leader with enhanced operational efficiency across all levels, streamlined processes and improved access to vital information for staff and students.
“When it comes to Workday implementation in higher education, most schools that have done so have limited their rollout to the human capital and finance modules,” Whitman said. “But Marymount is one of just a relatively small number of institutions that have also launched Workday Student. So we’re way ahead of the curve, and that’s a significant achievement for us.”
In addition to Workday, Whitman has spearheaded significant upgrades to Marymount’s network infrastructure, increasing the University’s internet service capacity tenfold over the past year. These improvements have enhanced connectivity across campus, ensuring a robust and reliable digital environment for students, faculty and staff.
“We’ve completely revamped Marymount’s networking environment, and that is a huge enhancement that will last us for a long time to come,” Whitman explained. “The broad increase of technology in higher education is positive for colleges and universities as it helps reduce operating costs while making us more efficient and desirable to students. But it also increases the importance of maintaining a highly secure environment to defend against external threats.”
As Vice President and CIO, Whitman will continue prioritizing Marymount’s IT advancements through programs like Workday College. This initiative, which aims to provide training and shared services for other institutions transitioning to the Workday platform, is expected to generate new revenue streams for the University while reinforcing its reputation as a digital transformation leader within higher education.
Whitman has decades of experience in IT leadership, having held executive positions at Montgomery College, the California State University system and American University, among others. He also has extensive consulting experience with organizations such as KPMG, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Department of State and Xerox Corporation. He holds a master’s degree in international service and a bachelor’s degree in religion from American University.
