VCU TS Leadership
Alex Henson
Chief Information Officer, VCU Technology Services
Alex Henson began his tenure as Chief Information Officer at Virginia Commonwealth University in April 2013. As CIO, he is responsible for delivering IT services, operating and maintaining secure technology infrastructure, and achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction. He is also charged with supporting innovation in teaching, learning, research, scholarship, and long-term technology planning. During his tenure at VCU, Alex has led the development and implementation of information technology strategies and initiatives aligned with VCU’s strategic plan, Quest 2025.
He was previously the Chief Operating Officer of IT Services at the University of Chicago. In this role, Alex was responsible for the Service Desk and support operations and the administrative and financial operations of the central IT organization at the university. In previous roles at Chicago from 1990-97 and after 2001, he led several system implementations, managed student and alumni/development systems, and managed computer retailing operations. Alex has also worked for a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer and a dot-com. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A., with a dual concentration in Marketing and Human Resources Management, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Barry Lanneau Jr
Director, Central Services
Barry has over 22 years of progressive technology experience in higher education. He serves as the university Records Officer and was previously a Special Application Director on the Application Services team, responsible for the Records and Document Management Services team. In addition, he has held IT positions in central IT at VCU, including Desktop Services as a student-worker desktop support technician, Telecommunication Services as an IT analyst, and Business Applications Services as an IT manager.
Barry holds a B.S. ('00) and an M.S. ('11) in Information Systems from the VCU School of Business. He serves as a VCU Black Education Association executive committee member, an ARMA International Richmond Chapter board member, a NET+ DocuSign service advisory board member, and the Records Management special interest group co-chair for the Association of Collegiate Computing Services of Virginia (ACCS).
Colleen Bishop
Director, Academic Technologies
Colleen Bishop is the Director of Academic Technologies. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the university's teaching and learning technologies (Canvas, Möbius, Kaltura, and integrated components) and instructional media services (video capturing and production, live streaming, classroom design, and teleconferencing) to support and expand the growth of technologies in VCU classrooms, labs and online. Departments in Academic Technologies include Learning Systems, Instructional Computing Services, and Media Support Services: Video Production and Teleconferencing, Engineering and Design, and Classroom Support.
Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer, her management focus is twofold. One - providing proactive, highly responsive instructional technology expertise and end user support to the VCU community. Two - advancing teaching and learning at VCU by building strong working relationships with VCU academic departments, including the VCU Online (ALT Lab).
Colleen previously served as the Director of Learning Systems at VCU. She managed the Learning Systems team in this role, delivering a broad range of eLearning applications to the VCU academic community. Her instructional technology experience includes serving as the Center for Excellence in Instruction Coordinator at Piedmont Virginia Community College, the Coordinator for Distance Education, and the Coordinator for Technology Training at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. She also worked as a web course developer and instructional design specialist in the private sector. She holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Special Education from Radford University and a Master's of Instructional Technology with a MultiMedia certificate from George Mason University.
Keith Deane
Director, Infrastructure Services
Keith Deane oversees Network Services, responsible for the data network at Virginia Commonwealth University, including strategic planning and growth, delivery of bandwidth, managing the infrastructure and cable plant, wired and wireless networks, quality of service for applications such as VoIP and Skype, coordinating network build-out for capital construction projects, and overseeing all day-to-day network operations.
Keith also manages the University Computer Center team, which is responsible for all centrally located servers, virtual servers, data storage, backup, enterprise database administration, directory infrastructure, certificate administration, system monitoring, and maintenance and support for all centrally located servers and two data centers.
Keith joined VCU in 1984 after a four-year tour in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician. At VCU, he worked in the Electronics Department before joining Health Sciences Computing as a cabling technician. Keith was one of the original members of the “networking group” when formed in the mid-1990s.
Keith holds a B.S. in Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth, graduating magna cum laude. He is also a member of the Commonwealth Management Institute.
Dan Han
Chief Information Security Officer
Dan Han is the Chief Information Security Officer for Virginia Commonwealth University. He started his career at VCU as an IT student worker in August 2003. Dan worked as an application developer, system administrator, IT manager, and security and infrastructure manager before taking on the Chief Information Security Officer role with VCU Technology Services. Dan is responsible for setting the information security strategy for the university, creating and maintaining the information security policies and procedures, and the day-to-day operations management of the enterprise security and IT risk management program.
Before joining VCU, Dan worked as an application developer at a large financial institution. He also gained experience with infrastructure design and management in small to medium-sized healthcare organizations. In addition to his professional work, Dan also participates in various local and national information security organizations and advisory boards. In addition, Dan has authored courses, lectured, and presented at numerous information security conferences and training events.
Dan holds an M.B.A. and M.S. with concentrations in information technology management and information assurance from Virginia Commonwealth University and has twelve industry-recognized professional certifications in IT and the information security field.
Sam Kennedy
Director, Technology Support Services
Sam serves as Director of Technology Support Services (TSS). The TSS team includes Campus Card Services, Desktop Services/Emergency Notification Services, the IT Support Center, and Strategic Communications. Sam joined VCU in 2000 as the card management services team manager.
Sam’s higher education experience includes serving as Director of Student Life and Recreation at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Before returning to higher education, Sam was an account executive with a satellite infotainment business based at the Studios of Los Colinas in Irving, Texas. Sam is an Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society member and has served on the VCU Appeals Board, VCU Safety Committee, and the VCU Staff Senate. Sam has also presented sessions at various conferences, including the Association of Collegiate Computing Services of Virginia.
Sam holds an M.S. in Organizational Communications and a B.S. in Business Administration from Murray State University. Sam also has completed the ITIL® Foundation Certification in IT Service Management.
Marcus Mickle
Director, Administrative Systems
Marcus Mickle serves as the Director of Administrative Systems. Marcus is responsible for Ellucian Banner, Operational Data Store (ODS), VCU Reporting Center, SAS Business Intelligence environments, and other vital systems. He has worked in Administrative Systems for more than 20 years. He held the positions of Assistant Director, Applications for 12 years, Applications Manager for four years, and Applications Analyst for five years. Before joining VCU, Marcus worked in the private industry as an Actuarial Senior Programmer/Analyst for a large healthcare company. He also gained applications development experience working at a large pharmaceutical company.
Marcus holds a Master of Arts in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Instructional Technology from Virginia Tech, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Information Systems from VCU, a Bachelor of Arts in History from Mary Washington College, a Project Management Professional (PMP) credential from the Project Management Institute, and a Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) credential from the Project Management Institute. He is also a member of the Commonwealth Management Institute.
Robin Roane
Director, Telecommunications Services
Robin Roane is Director of Telecommunications Services for VCU Technology Services. Robin is responsible for delivering telecommunications services, maintaining quality customer service standards, and successfully managing an entire cost-recovery enterprise. She continues to bring technology innovation to VCU through memberships with IAUG (International Avaya Users Group), ACUTA (Association for College and University Technology Advancement), and Cisco’s Customer Connection Program. In addition, Robin is an ambassador for community engagement and is a member of VCU’s Council for Community Engagement and Community Connections Committee.
Robin was previously Telecommunications Manager for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. In this role, Robin was responsible for telecommunications services across a five-state region and was Chair of the National Telecommunications Users’ Group.
Before telecommunications, Robin worked for an IT vendor leading large-scale Unix implementations for federal government customers across the U.S. She holds an A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems from J. Sargeant Reynolds and attended ODU in the Occupational and Technical Studies Training Specialist program.
Hannah Steighner
Director, Office of the CIO, VCU Technology Services
Hannah Steighner is the Director of the Office of the CIO of VCU Technology Services. In this role, she supports the development and promotion of campus-wide IT initiatives, strategies, and projects established by the CIO. Additionally, this office oversees and manages the IT Governance process, assists with implementing key IT initiatives at VCU, such as the IT Artificial Intelligence strategy, and promotes Project and Portfolio Management best practices at VCU Technology Services.
Hannah is enabled in her role by her professional experience in project management, IT service management, and operations management. Starting as a student worker at the VCU Technology Services Help Desk in 2007, Hannah became a full-time staff member in 2010. She served in various roles, from part-time staff supervisor, coordinator, and manager, and eventually served as the Assistant Director for Service and Support Management in Technology Support Services. In 2018, she obtained a role working in the central PMO organization for TS, serving as a Project Manager and Senior IT Consultant before transitioning to her current position in 2024.
Hannah holds a B.A. (‘10) and M.A. (‘15) in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her background in critical theory, research, writing, and evidence-based arguments has enabled her to bring a unique skill set and fresh perspective to the IT and business world. In addition, she holds an ITIL version 3 Expert, a Business Relationship Management Professional certification, and an active Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Jim Yucha
Director, Application Services
Jim Yucha is the Director of Application Services. He oversees the Web Services and the Business Application Services teams. In addition, his team is responsible for nearly 100 applications, including the VCU web, VCU Mobile, the myVCU Portal, Web Content Management System, Web authentication, EIT Accessibility, Facilities Management Systems (AIM and FSS), and many other web-related applications, including eCommerce, VCU Events Calendar and the Training Management System.
Before being named Interim Director, Jim served as the Assistant Director of Application Services and Director of VCU Web Services, a position he has held since 1997. Previously at VCU, he was the Manager and Assistant Director of Academic Computing. Before VCU, Jim was the Manager of Academic Computing at East Carolina University and a Biostatistician at the University of Florida.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Statistics from the University of Florida. Jim has authored/co-authored seven publications and has been involved in numerous professional organizations. In addition, Jim has presented applications developed by his team to national and international audiences. He was inducted into the ACM SIGUCCS Hall of Fame in 2013 and was part of the WEAVEonline team awarded the Billy R. Martin Innovation Award in 2009.