Dana Sanderson receives community award from the Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers
Dana Sanderson, UPEI’s Chief Information Officer, received the Canadian University Council of CIOs (CUCCIO) community award during the 2023 Canadian Higher Education Information Technology (CANHEIT) Conference held from June 19–21 at the University of Toronto.
The CUCCIO awards celebrate the achievements and transformative initiatives undertaken by Canadian universities in the realm of Information Technology (IT). The finalists in the collaboration, innovation, and community categories exemplify the spirit of excellence and dedication that drives the Canadian higher education community forward.
Dana Sanderson has been a frequent and prolific contributor, supporter, and participant in CUCCIO’s many initiatives and fora. He has filled several roles on the CUCCIO board, participated as a working group member, and is a ceaseless supporter of collaborative efforts throughout his time at UPEI.
As UPEI’s CIO, Sanderson oversees the University’s IT strategy and execution, ensuring that it fully supports UPEI’s academic mission. He is an alumnus of UPEI’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, and he has an MBA from the University of Ottawa.
“UPEI is extremely fortunate to have Dana Sanderson as our chief information officer,” said Dr. Greg Keefe, interim president and vice-chancellor of UPEI. “On behalf of the University, I congratulate Dana on receiving this prestigious honour. We are very proud of him for this significant recognition of his community-building initiatives and expertise in the information technology profession.”
While he supports the development of others, Sanderson is known amongst his colleagues to be just as open to his own professional growth and to learning from others. He sits on the National Research and Education Network, representing the New Brunswick-Prince Edward Island Educational Computer Network. In this role, which is often filled by full-time staff in other regions, he practices his signature skill as a “bridge builder” between the CIO community and the research and education networking world.
“Dana has always been exceptionally generous about sharing his expertise, experience, and wit with the cohorts as a frequent topic speaker, virtual social event host, and a consultant on their presentation projects,” said Bob Cook, facilitator of the CUCCIO Leadership Development Program (LDP) and Information Services Leadership Development Program (ISLDP). “He has never said no to a request to offer his knowledge, and his wisdom has been monumentalized in the cohorts’ identification of Dana’s numerous ‘truths to lead by’.”
CANHEIT is the only national conference that brings together IT professionals from across the post-secondary sector (universities, colleges, and polytechnics) to share ideas, showcase best practices, and learn from each other.
