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UIT is pleased to announce that John Penrose has been named the associate director for UIT’s Project Management Office (PMO). He replaces Jill Brinton, who is in the process of transitioning to retirement.

Swain, who has served as interim associate director since December 2020, brings more than 11 years of leadership experience and 15 years of experience in international education to the position.

The system administrator in UIT’s Campus Computer Support team also goes by Lord Christophe Von Lübbeke, a persona he assumes as part of the Barony of Loch Salann, the Salt Lake City chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

IT Project Manager Jody Sluder retired on February 16, 2021 after serving the University of Utah for 25 years. In lieu of an in-person party, UIT employees offered well-wishes via Microsoft Teams.

CIO Steve Hess joined President Ruth Watkins on the most recent episode of the “U Rising” podcast to discuss the U’s role in providing a statewide network infrastructure and other digital tools, and the initiative to enhance both last year.

As we close the door on 2020, we're reflecting on some of UIT's most notable achievements, from COVID-19 projects to the MobileU app; events, such as the Milestone Years of Service week; and employee features and news, including two award winners.

Amy Talbot has made a few dramatic pivots in her career — she's been a laboratory technician in the U’s Department of Human Genetics, photographer and business owner, and an account executive in UIT’s Communications Infrastructure group.

Staff could choose their own adventure — watch “Beetlejuice” in the Cinema Cemetery, play Jackbox.TV games in the USS (Underground Super-Spooky) Lair, or hang out in the Water Tower — and post messages and contest entries in the associated Teams channels.

Before the pandemic, interns in UIT’s Student University Development Opportunity (sUdo) program used to meet once a month for a “tabletop” team-building event with snacks, board games, and video games. This semester, they rebooted the meetings with a twist — in a virtual office in Minecraft.

The Identity & Access Management senior architect — one of 23 recipients for the 2020 Academics and Student Affairs District Staff Excellence Award — is one of only eight University of Utah employees selected to receive the 2020 University Staff Excellence Award and $3,750 honorarium.