- Emaillowden.1@osu.edu
The Ohio State University appointed Rob Lowden as its new vice president and chief information officer (CIO), on August 1, 2025. In this role, Lowden leads the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI), overseeing enterprise IT, cybersecurity, data and analytics, and digital learning platforms during a pivotal period of digital transformation and strategic growth.
Lowden brings more than 25 years of experience leading complex institutions through modernization and change. He is a nationally recognized leader in higher education IT and has held board-level governance roles in technology partnerships and academic consortiums. Prior to joining Ohio State, he served as vice president and CIO at Indiana University, where he led IT strategy and services across nine campuses and medical education centers.
In addition to overseeing key technology initiatives at Ohio State, VP and CIO Lowden will help shape the university’s broader vision for artificial intelligence (AI) fluency, digital equity and intelligent infrastructure. He will also play a key role in expanding access to intelligent tools, agentic AI systems and ethical technology practices, ensuring that innovation at Ohio State remains student-centered while also aligned to Ohio State’s vision and mission.
Lowden’s previous roles include executive associate dean and CIO of the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he advanced research infrastructure, clinical education tools and data integration capabilities. He also served in the United States Navy from 1992 through 1997 as a search and rescue swimmer. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology and a Master of Science in Technology from Purdue University. As CIO, Lowden reports to Chris Kabourek, senior vice president for Administration and Planning.