Allan Chen has been appointed Vice President for Institute Technology (VPIT) and Chief Technology Officer at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). A proven technology leader with a career-long history of high standards of performance, team-building, leadership, and delivering results, Chen will assume his new position on Nov. 23.
“Allan is a team builder and has a solid record of leadership and operational expertise. I’m confident he can align the crucial services our faculty, students, and staff need, not only at this critical time, but also as we advance the role of technology in administrative operations and academic programs,” said CalArts President Ravi Rajan. “He understands the immense impact technology can have on the teaching and learning experience and how it can be used to strengthen our educational outcomes.”
As VPIT, Chen will be report to Rajan and will collaborate with academic and administrative leaders across the Institute. He will be responsible for providing the overall vision, strategic and operational leadership, and execution in technology planning, policy, investments, services, and security. During his career, Chen has grown instructional technology programs, reorganized departments to address growing institutional needs in classrooms and other spaces, improved client service models, grown data infrastructure, and spearheaded multiple cyber security initiatives.
“The world is watching how higher education will meet the needs of students in this historic moment, and I am thrilled to join CalArts,” said Chen. “Together with the IT team, we will ensure the flexibility and support to help make sure students, faculty and staff have the tools they need to succeed no matter whether they are on campus or off-campus.”
Chen brings 19 years experience in higher education information technology. Prior to joining CalArts, Chen served as associate vice president for academic technology at California State University Northridge and chief information officer roles at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania and at Menlo College in Atherton, California. He also served as assistant dean, law and technology and academic computing at Santa Clara University School of Law, and in increasingly responsible positions with Stanford University’s academic and student computing divisions. He has also been deeply engaged with the educational nonprofit association EDUCAUSE, including serving on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force.
Chen earned a bachelor’s degree in history with honors from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University, Leavey School of Business.
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California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) has set the pace for educating professional artists since 1970. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions. As successive generations of faculty and alumni have helped shape the landscape of contemporary arts, the Institute first envisioned by Walt Disney encompasses a vibrant, eclectic community with global reach, inviting experimentation, independent inquiry, and active collaboration and exchange among artists, artistic disciplines and cultural traditions.