Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. named Melissa Woo as senior vice president and chief information officer for the university, responsible for the information and computer technology supporting enterprise goals across campus.
Woo is replacing Rob McCurdy, who informed university leadership earlier this week that he is leaving MSU for a job at a global accounting company. McCurdy has been chief information officer since 2016 after serving as chief information security officer for three years. His last day will be Oct. 4.
“We wish Rob much success in his new adventure back in the private sector,” Stanley said. “Rob has built a strong security framework for the university, for which we are very grateful. But as soon as I realized we needed a new leader for our IT and security efforts, Melissa was my first thought. She is a strong leader, strategic thinker and problem solver. I have complete confidence she will do an amazing job continuing to build our IT enterprise.”
Since 2016, Woo has been the senior vice president for information technology and chief information officer at Stony Brook University. She has also served as vice provost for information services and chief information officer at the University of Oregon, director of IT services at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and in various technology roles at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a doctorate in biophysics. In 2019 Woo received the EDUCAUSE DEI Leadership Award for her excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Melissa has the right blend of skills and attributes we need at this time,” Stanley said. “She possesses superb technical knowledge to support research enterprises. A hallmark of her approach is listening closely and building an organization that is deeply responsive to the strategy, goals, needs and priorities of those IT supports and enables.”
“I am honored to be joining MSU and thank President Stanley for providing me the opportunity to serve the university community,” Woo said. “I look forward to learning from my new colleagues and helping them succeed in reaching their goals as well as advancing the mission of Michigan State University. On a personal note, I can’t wait to be back in the Big Ten. Go Green!”
Fred Sudler, chief operating officer for MSU IT and director of application services, will serve as acting chief information officer until Woo begins on Dec. 1. Woo will report directly to the president. Her appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees during the October meeting.
