Rosa Lara

Information Technology
Chief Information Officer

Mrs. Rosa Y. Lara joined the State System in April 2019 with over two decades of information technology experience. She started her career as an IT consultant serving public sector customers across a number of states. She then transitioned to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where she has served in numerous roles up to and including Deputy CIO for the Commonwealth overseeing an organization of 2000 IT professionals with over $1B in IT spend annually. Over her career, she has led the implementation of numerous complex and high-profile statewide initiatives including implementing an enterprise eGrants system at the commonwealth, establishing the commonwealth’s first IT Expenditure dashboard, implementing PENNWATCH, the governments first transparency website, overseeing the state’s first eGovernment office and leading the state’s IT response for the influx of Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) dollars. Her largest project was leading the Commonwealth’s transition to a new shared service delivery model for IT which included changes to how IT was structured across the state, how IT was governed, how IT was funded and how IT performance metrics were measured; the initiative saved $83M as of her departure.

Mrs. Lara earned her BA in Public Administration from The College of NJ and earned her Master of Public Administration and an MS in Information Resources Management from Syracuse University.

Why did you pursue a career in higher education?

Some of my best memories occurred when I was in college – they were very formative years and I was lucky to have a good network of people supporting me as I was learning and growing. I knew I wanted to return and when the opportunity arose to work in higher ed, I jumped at the chance. I have truly enjoyed working in the State System – especially in a time of such transformation and opportunity.

What first sparked your interest in information technology?

I knew from a very young age that I was interested in government having run several successful campaigns for student government but I stumbled upon technology when a faculty member encouraged me to take an Information Sciences class in grad school. I took the course, really not knowing what I was in for but from the first day of class, I was hooked. And when I was able to combine my passion for the public sector with IT, I could see the power of transforming business operations, business processes, improving customer service through the skills needed to be successful in IT. I don’t think you need to come from a traditional computer science background to make an impact in IT and as a result, I always encourage young female professionals to consider a career in STEM.

Years of work in information technology later, what keeps you motivated?

I’m new to higher education – having been here at the State System for a little over a year-and-a-half but I have worked in the public sector for over 21 years. I am motivated by serving the common good – I believe in the public sector and I think it has an important role to play in the delivery of services, often times to the most vulnerable populations. That also extends to public higher education – since joining the State System, I continue to be inspired by the stories of the students we serve and I’m proud to be able to contribute to that mission in small ways. When I hear about the great work our universities are doing across a multitude of areas, I think back to my own experiences as a first generation college student and all the professionals that played a role in shaping my career.

What are your top priorities as chief information officer?

My role is to oversee IT strategy, governance and policy across the State System working in close collaboration with the University chief information technology officers. My priorities are to use IT governance practices to work together to make collaborative IT decisions that benefit all universities, while helping reduce cost and risk. These efforts are part of our larger System Redesign, which is focusing on transforming operations across a number of areas. I am proud of the work of the IT professionals in the State System who are so dedicated to meeting the missions of their Universities and although I know there is much work ahead of us, I am proud of what we have accomplished so far.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My family and I love to travel exploring different places and experiencing new things. We have already visited over half of the states in the U.S. I also enjoy cooking, trying new recipes and hosting dinner parties.

Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dr. Denise Pearson
Vice Chancellor, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

Dr. Denise Pearson joined the State System in August 2020 with three decades of experience in the classroom and as campus leader, including having served as assistant provost of faculty affairs and then interim dean/senior associate dean of the School of Education and Human Performance at Winston-Salem State University and associate academic dean at the University of Denver. She previously served as vice president for academic affairs and equity initiatives at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO).

Dr. Pearson earned her Ph.D. in administration and supervision of education from Marquette University and master's degrees in conflict resolution from the University of Denver and educational administration from Concordia University. Her undergraduate studies were at the State University of New York at Delhi and Pace University.

Here is a list of readings that were useful over the many months I collaborated with campus leaders to develop the systemwide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Priorities affirmed by the Board of Governors.

Why did you pursue a career in higher education?

I was pursuing a career in human resources management in New York during my early years as a mother in the early 1980s. When my family relocated to Wisconsin in the late 1980s, I accepted an opportunity to teach courses at a local college, in a certificate program for adult learners (I only had an undergraduate degree in Human Services at the time). It wasn't long before I was able to see the impact I could have on students and higher education in general and I never resumed plans to become a HR executive. I went on and completed my M.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Education, Conflict Resolution, and Education Administration & Supervision with an emphasis in higher education. During my career, I have worked at diverse institutional types – including public, private, community college, HBCU, urban, suburban, and faith-based, and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the fields of education, communication, and conflict resolution. Some of my most rewarding professional experiences have happened in the classroom (including online), especially those when I can help students develop their sense of belonging and contribution to the learning environment. I couldn't imagine a better career choice.

What first sparked your interest in educational equity and policy?

The complexity of the higher education ecosystem, in addition to the clear connection between policy and practice, piqued my interest in educational equity and policy. During my tenure at Winston-Salem State University (one of the University of North Carolina's 16 institutions) I had the opportunity to observe how policy enables practice as well as how practice informs policy – ideally in ways that have positive impacts on student outcomes. When I joined State Higher Education Executive Officers in 2016, I recognized that such synergy could not be assumed and that strategic intentionality was required. Joining SHEEO also gave me unique opportunities to explore and advocate for stronger collaborations between policy makers and institutions of higher education, especially around critical policy areas such as teacher preparation, dual enrollment, and postsecondary education for incarcerated populations. Acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to apply an equity lens to policy and practice discussions has increased my effectiveness to advocate for groups historically excluded from American higher education. I value the effort required for intentional and meaningful deliberations that place equity at the center.

Years of work in higher education later, what keeps you motivated?

I stay motivated because of my unwavering belief in the power of education. The zip code where someone is born should not be the deciding factor on the educational opportunities they are afforded or the heights they can reach in life. I believe in the power of education to improve the human condition, support economic development, increase community and civic engagement, transform lives of incarcerated populations, and disrupt generational poverty. State systems of higher education are uniquely positioned to collaborate with a diversity of stakeholders in search of scalable and sustainable solutions to so many societal problems. I am eager to serve as Vice Chancellor and Chief DE&I Officer in search of solutions to persistent challenges to educational equity. A career in higher education is a privilege that carries tremendous responsibility, which I do not take lightly. Albeit serious, that does not mean the work can't be fun too.

What are your priorities for the first few months of your new job?

My immediate priorities include visiting each campus and meeting leadership, faculty, staff, and students. These visits will be part of my plan to learn about how diversity, equity, and inclusion is positioned on each campus and how we can partner to create and advance a shared DE&I agenda. Essentially, I want to learn how I can support campus leadership in their efforts to foster environments that allow students, faculty, and staff to thrive. The first few months will focus on learning to inform planning.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I am passionate about my health. I made the decision more than a decade ago to consume a plant-based diet and am always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and practice of veganism (although I haven't given up my leather shoes or purses yet). My favorite vegan cuisines are Afro-Cuban, Indian, and Mediterranean. I have three lovely sons who bring me great joy. I also have a 2 ½ year old granddaughter. Family time is precious especially since all my children live in Colorado, and I always look forward to the times we get together. Reading is a way for me to escape and expand my mind. I enjoy reading (Audible included) about a wide range of topics – education, public policy, the environment, culture, health, and even a good love story.

System Leadership

Rosa Lara