
Christopher Keith named Brown’s vice president for data technological know-how
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Christopher Keith, a technological know-how leader with a very long observe file of results taking care of IT projects and initiatives at Brown College, has been appointed Brown’s vice president for information technological innovation and chief data officer, effective May 1, 2024.

Keith serves at this time as assistant main information officer for company purposes, a purpose in which he oversees the strategic use of software package purposes and info, and potential customers teams that take care of technological innovation options and solutions ranging from web content material administration to software growth to knowledge warehousing. Keith provides 17 years of knowledge at Brown, acquiring joined the College in 2007 as director of data technologies for the Higher education. He is also an alumnus, having attained his master’s diploma in computer science from Brown in 2012.
In his new place, Keith will hold the major info know-how function at Brown and will guide engineering, facts and digital alternatives throughout the University. His duties will involve oversight of most IT methods and services that aid educating and finding out technology aid for research and enterprise enterprises throughout campus oversight of the spending budget and additional than 200 workers customers in the Workplace of Information and facts Technological innovation.
Keith will report to Govt Vice President for Finance and Administration Sarah C. Latham, who shared news of his appointment in a Tuesday, April 23, letter to the campus community.
“Chris has produced a lot of contributions throughout his tenure at Brown, most not long ago aiding in our get the job done to produce an IT roadmap for the campus, institute an IT governance model and advance an effective data governance product to help the information and facts desires of our campus community,” Latham wrote. “Over this time, Chris has come to be a trustworthy partner and valued colleague and has acquired a track record for his integrity and his perseverance to the Brown College mission.”
Keith explained he appears to be forward to transitioning to the senior position and will goal to attract on his practical experience at Brown to establish on the office’s the latest momentum.
“Brown has an amazing group of leaders, and to be equipped to operate with them and contribute to strategies for going Brown ahead as an establishment is an astounding privilege,” Keith reported. “If you can find a person issue that I hope to reach in my tenure, it is to even more correctly placement OIT to be a strategic lover throughout campus in roles that lengthen nicely over and above becoming a provider provider. I am on the lookout ahead to those people strategic partnership discussions with leaders across campus to dig in and check out how OIT can enable permit even extra information and technological know-how methods for school, students and team.”
Through 17 several years at Brown, Keith has held several positions where by he’s leveraged engineering to strengthen small business and education processes, like course opinions, advising and student support, id and entry management and pupil and alumni engagement.
In advance of coming to Brown, Keith used 7 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy — very first as a naval flight officer and subsequently as a member of the data warfare group at the Naval Academy Preparatory College in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998 with a bachelor of science in computer system science.
Keith succeeds Sharon P. Pitt, who was named vice president for details engineering and main information and facts officer at Virginia Tech in November.
Latham mentioned that the decision to elevate Keith followed a countrywide search approach and enter from campus stakeholders, and the participation of college, employees and other individuals in the course of an interview procedure that started in December. Keith’s deep understanding of Brown’s technologies landscape and his important contributions to IT governance and strategic planning produced him the standout preference for the placement and displays leading-level talent becoming cultivated on Faculty Hill.
“The skill to advertise from inside demonstrates the wealth of talent we have at Brown and improvements our objective of developing superior career pathways for our staff customers,” Latham wrote.
[Editor’s Note: Story updated on April 25 with a minor edit to more accurately describe the search process.]