NSU welcomes new CIO, Dr. Richard Reif

On April 13, Dr. Richard Reif joined Northeastern State University as the new Chief Information Officer.

Reif brings extensive experience in the Information Technology field, with both private and public employers, including 13 years as vice president for Information Technology at Carl Albert State College. Prior to his position as vice president, Reif spent seven years teaching Computer Science at CASC.

A Wisconsin native, Reif fell in love with Oklahoma. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electronics Technology degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications Management and a Doctorate of Education from Oklahoma State University.

Working in the higher education arena has always been Reifs career goal and passion.

I love higher education. We get to be a part of a place where students are working every day to make their dreams come true, he said.

Reif brings to NSU both the experience and the knowledge necessary to keep the university ahead of the curve, poised and ready for the next advancement.

From predictive analytics to advancing technologies that support the online learning environment, the work that Dr. Reif and his team of professional do each day significantly impacts all aspects of NSUs operations, President Steve Turner said. His experience in both the private sector and higher education will enable him to be an effective leader and advisor to the Cabinet.

Reifs arrival comes as the university prepares for a website redesign. He and other members of the institution will work to provide a solid infrastructure to support the revamp.

David Koehn, vice president for Administration and Finance at NSU looks forward to the multi-faceted approach that Reif will bring to the NSU IT department.

Dr. Reif brings a strong history of strategic leadership in the use of technology in academics. His doctoral dissertation was entitled, Faculty perceptions of pedagogical best practices as they relate to online course quality. He also brings a strong passion and ability to develop and mentor staff within the Information Technology department, creating a strong customer service-oriented organization to support the university community.

Reif hopes to move NSU in a more data-driven direction, all the while strengthening communication between ITS and the university community.