Rob Lowden serves as Vice President and Chief Information Officer of The Ohio State University, where he leads the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation. He oversees enterprise IT, cybersecurity, data and analytics, and digital learning during a critical phase of transformation and growth. With more than 25 years of experience, he is widely regarded as a forward-looking technology leader in higher education. Before joining Ohio State, he was vice president and CIO at Indiana University, guiding IT strategy across nine campuses and medical education centers.
At Ohio State, Lowden is helping shape the university’s direction on AI fluency, digital equity, intelligent infrastructure and ethical technology practices, ensuring innovation remains student-focused and aligned to the university’s mission. His previous roles include executive associate dean and CIO of the Indiana University School of Medicine. A U.S. Navy veteran, he holds degrees in computer and technology fields from Purdue University.
In this conversation with CIO Magazine, Lowden offers a clear look at how a modern university can stay ahead in a world where technology evolves faster than most institutions can adapt. He reflects on the value of unity in large-scale IT organizations, the human side of resilience during crises, and the growing urgency of building AI fluency across an entire academic community. Below are the excerpts of the interview.