Shelton Named UA Vice Provost, Chief Information Officer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Mike Shelton has been named the next vice provost and chief information officer at The University of Alabama and will begin his tenure Dec. 1.

Shelton will move into his new role after serving as deputy chief information officer for the UA Office of Information Technology since 2019. He has more than 25 years of experience in information technology. Shelton started as a programmer at UA in 2006. In addition to his role with OIT, Shelton serves as an adjunct instructor teaching leadership and ethics in the Culverhouse College of Business.

"We are thrilled to name Mike Shelton as our new vice provost and chief information officer," said Dr. Jim Dalton, UA executive vice president and provost. "Mike's expertise and forward-thinking approach to technology will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our digital infrastructure and support our university community."

Shelton was a first-generation college student, earning a bachelor's degree in information systems and master's degree in management from UA. He is also a graduate of the University's Leadership U program.

"I am deeply honored to accept the role of vice provost and chief information officer at The University of Alabama," Shelton said. "Being offered this role means a great deal to me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our tremendous students, faculty and staff in leveraging technology to support the University's strategic goals. As a two-time graduate and lifelong Tuscaloosa resident, UA is home for me."

As deputy chief information officer for OIT, Shelton played a critical role in many high-impact initiatives, including developing OIT's strategic plan, centralizing enterprise email and collaboration services, successfully transitioning to cloud-based technologies such as Microsoft 365 and currently planning for the technology and IT services that will support the new high-performance computing center. He also played a leading role in providing critical technology services to the campus community while navigating the challenges of the pandemic.

"With my extensive background in technology and the experience I have gained as deputy chief information officer, I am confident in my ability to effectively lead the Office of Information Technology. I am particularly excited to work with such an outstanding team, whose dedication and expertise give me full confidence in our collective success." Shelton said. "Together, we will strive to enhance UA's technological capabilities and support the academic, research and administrative needs of our university community."

As the vice provost and chief information officer, Shelton will provide visionary and operational leadership to enable a forward-thinking, enterprise-focused IT organization that champions the strategic use of technology to further UA's mission.