Governing Body Spotlight

I am the Chief Information Officer at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where I lead the strategic integration of technology to enhance patient care, streamline operations, and drive innovation in dental education and research. With over 20 years of IT leadership experience, I specialize in leveraging technology to improve efficiencies, optimize clinical and operational workflows, and advance digital transformation initiatives. Prior to becoming CIO, I held leadership roles at La Salle University, guiding teams across enterprise systems, application development, and support operations. I hold a B.A. in Computer Science from Rowan University, along with an M.S. in Computer Science and an MBA from La Salle University.

A few fun facts about me, I spent six years as a volunteer firefighter in my younger days, and I love glamping with my husband and two teenage daughters as we travel around the country in our RV. We’re an outdoors-loving family, and you can often find us hiking, biking, or kayaking wherever the road takes us.

Learn more about the Philadelphia CIO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

My career started in K–12 education, after which I transitioned to higher education, where the energy, curiosity, and commitment to lifelong learning resonated deeply with me. More than 20 years later, I remain grateful to work in an environment that continually challenges and inspires me.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

One of my core leadership principles is hiring smart, capable people and giving them the space, support, and resources they need to succeed. I believe in creating a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and I actively bring people together to solve problems and move initiatives forward. I believe strongly in empowering teams to do their best work while fostering trust and shared ownership.

What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

Navigating a rapidly shifting technology landscape while keeping our academic medical environment secure, and adaptable. We're addressing this in a variety of ways, including focusing on strategic upgrades that strengthen resilience and support innovation along with improving cross-team collaboration and prioritization.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?

Stay relentlessly curious, learn the business from every angle, and embrace change as a constant.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

One way to measure success is by the strength of our team culture, the clarity of our shared priorities, and the progress we make in advancing the school’s mission through technology.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

I’ve found tremendous value in learning how leaders in other industries tackle similar challenges, often uncovering new perspectives and approaches I can bring back to my organization.
 

Gartner C-level Communities Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.