Fairmont State University welcomes Dr. Joy Hatch as the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer.
Her background includes a Bachelor’s in commercial design from Barton College, followed by a Masters in Information Systems and her Ph.D. in information systems. She then went on to earn an MBA to ensure that she had the business background to complement the technology knowledge.
“I am passionate about technology and what technology can do, both in our personal and professional lives,” she said. “This position will help bring about some change as we prepare for the future, but we are building on a strong team and some wonderful initiatives that have already been done.”
Hatch is excited to be joining the Falcon family and is looking forward to working with everyone.
“Fairmont State has a contagious spirit and passion for students, along with an enthusiasm and excitement for the work done. As an institution that strives to be the first-choice institution for students seeking a transformative educational experience,” she said. “Fairmont State is in a unique position to educate students, and I know technology can be a major partner in these efforts. I am excited about the opportunities ahead to make a difference for students and to contribute what Fairmont State needs to reach its strategic goals through technology.”
Hatch has over two decades of experience in higher education and comes to Fairmont State with a strong passion for technology and it’s use in education.
President Dr. Mirta Martin said the University is fortunate to have a seasoned, well-educated professional join the Falcon family.
“Dr. Joy Hatch brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences to Fairmont State University. Her career is as impressive as her expertise,” Dr. Martin said. “Not only has she implemented and designed IT systems for higher education; she also personally led the largest PeopleSoft system in the world. It’s her IT acumen that will allow Fairmont State University to soar and provide 21st century technology access to our Falcon family.”
Hatch has worked with a variety of instutitons, including small and large institutions, community colleges, private and public institutions, and a system with 23 colleges. She has had a variety of professional positions, which included working as chief flight instructor and charter pilot, and teaching technology classes at the institutions where she has worked. She has been active in leadership positions in the communities where she has lived, and has published widely.
Talking about the future of technology in higher ed, Hatch points out that many problems that face higher education today, “reduced funding, changing student demographics, questions regarding quality and value, and increased competition. Each of these issues requires transformative changes to enable new teaching and learning approaches, and technology will play a role in making this happen and be successful.”
Over the next year, Hatch said her department will be focusing on four primary areas: governance and communication, creating processes, planning and security. These will work to meet the needs, issues and strategies she has discussed with the president.
“Having consistent data is a high priority for reasons such as research, analytics, and reporting,” she said. “Having accurate and reliable data will provide President Martin the information needed to be more strategic with decisions for Fairmont State on a variety of topics.”
“One of the goals for this year is greater communication along with training for our employees about the resources available through our IT department,” she said. “We are starting a data standards and governance workgroup and also planning for computer upgrades, administrative system upgrades, process reengineering and much more.”
