Biography

As vice president for information technology and chief information officer, Rob Lowden sets comprehensive, IT strategy and leads IT services, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and research efforts across the university.

In his previous role as executive associate dean and CIO for the IU School of Medicine, Lowden led IT strategy for the largest medical school in the United States. Prior to this, he served as IU’s associate vice president of enterprise systems, during which he led adoption of IU’s course management system, implemented two-factor authentication across IU, and led the development of the Decision Support Initiative to provide IU leaders with access to timely, accurate data to inform better decision-making.

He has held multiple IT and leadership roles at IU dating back to 1998. In addition, Lowden served as interim executive director of Unizin, a membership-based consortium of large research institutions dedicated to improving learner experiences with digital teaching and learning resources.

Lowden is a first-generation college graduate and earned a Master of Science in Technology degree and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology degree, both from Purdue University.  Lowden served in the United States Navy in roles including Ceremonial Guard member in Washington D.C., search and rescue swimmer in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and communications specialist in the Nimitz Battlegroup in Southeast Asia, ultimately earning an honorable discharge for his service.

PublicationsLowden, R. Exorcizing Shadow Systems: What It Takes to Modernize University IT Operations The EvoLLLution 2019Lowden, R. Reinventing Service Access through the Cloud The EvoLLLution 2015Lowden, R. & Hostetter, C. Access, utility, imperfection: The impact of videoconferencing on perceptions of social presence. Computers in Human Behavior. 28 (2012) pp. 377-383. 2011PresentationsOmniSOC Annual Conference Keynote 2020IU Statewide IT Keynote, 2020 IU Statewide IT 2019Unizin Summit Orlando 2018MOR Associates Leadership Conference Presentation Bloomington 2017Kuali Days Annual Conference Presentation San Diego 2016Educause Face-to-Face Annual Conference Presentation Anaheim 2016Indiana Digital Government Conference Presentation Indianapolis 2016 2010Alliance Conference Presentation Nashville 2015Tableau Drive Conference Presentation Bellevue 2015Symplicity Client Conference Presentation Washington D.C. 2015Kuali Days United Kingdom Presentation London 2014Kuali Days South Africa Conference Presentation Cape Town 2014Educause Face-to-Face Annual Conference Anaheim 2013Kuali Days Annual Conference Presentation San Diego 2013EDUCAUSE Enterprise Illinois 2011EDUCAUSE half-day cloud computing seminar California 2010Gartner CIO Leadership Summit Keynote Phoenix 2010Burton Group Europe and North America Presentation Prague/San Diego 2010Sakai Conference Paris 2008Sakai Conference Amsterdam 2007National LeadershipIndiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity 2020-presentFortinet Customer Advisory Board 2020-presentHitachi Vantara Advisory Board Member 2018-presentUnizin Ltd. Ex-officio Board Member 2017-presentHigher Education Advisory Board Member Hyland 2017-2018Advisory Board Member Indiana Digital Summit 2016, 2017Kuali Core Board Chair 2016-2017Advisory Board Member Kelley Institute for Business Analytics 2013-2015AwardsIU Bicentennial Medal 2020ComputerWorld Honors Laureate Recipient Washington, D.C. 2009ComputerWorld Honors Laureate Recipient Washington, D.C. 2008The Building Community Award IUPUI 1999