Biography

Patrick Laughran serves as Chief Information Officer at Framingham State University, where he provides strategic leadership for enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data and analytics, digital transformation, and information technology services supporting the university’s academic and administrative mission. He brings more than four decades of leadership experience spanning public and private higher education, educational technology innovation, enterprise systems, and digital transformation.

In addition to his role as CIO, Mr. Laughran serves as an instructor and lecturer for the Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business, where he teaches graduate-level courses focused on information systems management, data and analytics strategy, data storytelling, and digital innovation.

Mr. Laughran is an active member of the Massachusetts Public Higher Education CIO Council and has served in advisory and leadership capacities supporting higher education technology and innovation initiatives. His professional interests include data governance, analytics strategy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, enterprise architecture, IT service management, and organizational change management within higher education.

Prior to joining Framingham State University, Mr. Laughran served as founding Chief Technology Officer of TechTarget, where he led development of the online platform used to deliver targeted technology content and digital marketing services across the global IT industry. He also served as founding CTO of Universal Learning Technology, an early educational technology company that later became part of WebCT, where he helped lead development of one of the first internet-based learning platforms featuring integrated reading, study, and comprehension support technologies.

Mr. Laughran holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Northeastern University, an MBA from Babson College, and participated in the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute for Higher Education Management program.