Phil Komarny, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Seton Hill University (SHU), will be finishing his five-year tenure and leaving the university on Feb. 14. Komarny has been hired as CEO, USA of the app development company, Robots and Pencils.
“Companies like Robots and Pencils will be integral in the creation of platforms, applications and interfaces that will enable the next big wave of technological innovation,” said Komarny.
In 2011, the Pittsburgh Technology Council selected Komarny as a finalist for the CIO of the Year Award. In the same year, SHU was also recognized as an eCampus of the Month by eCampus News.
“Part of Phil’s IT (Information Technology) philosophy was that IT can actually be a value engine,” said Luke Baum, a level II computer and information tech. “It can cut costs for the business, but it can also expand business and offer something of real value to the customers: students.”
2013 marked the third year that SHU was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program because of its implementation of technology.
“To be innovative takes confidence. If you are not confident in your role it is very hard, if not impossible, to have a forward looking or innovative vision,” said Komarny. “I have been blessed to have a career that has spanned the entire landscape of information technology. I guess most of all innovative people are curious and they never stop trying to make things better.”
Komarny noted that his most memorable accomplishment while at SHU was taking a mobile, cloud and social approach and applying it to the university.
“The best result and the most meaningful to me is that the students see the technology and our solution center as the #1 and #2 ranked customer service departments on campus 2 years in a row. We have continually looked at the data to apply our resources where the students wanted it most,” said Komarny.
Colleagues extended their well wishes to Komarny.
“Phil’s story at the moment is one about finding a place where you can have a more direct impact in changing the [information technology] game in a fantastic, meaningful way,” said Baum.
“We are grateful to Phil for his leadership in initiating and managing strategic decisions in technologies that optimize student and faculty access to resources,” said Interim President Bibiana Boerio in a press release. “Please join me in wishing Phil continued success in his new endeavors.”
Komarny expressed some thoughts about his departure, saying, “I’m thrilled to be a key member of a company that will help shape our future. I am equally as saddened to leave this community that has added so much to my life; both professionally and personally.”