Welcome to the OTDI Staff Resources site—your hub for everything you need to thrive, collaborate, and innovate while working in a supportive and flexible environment at Ohio State.
HR Guidance on Position Descriptions and Interviewing
- How to Write an Inclusive Job Description
- How to Use Structured Interviews to Improve the Hiring Process
* OTDI employees can find more helpful HR content in the HR channel of the IT Community Team.
Voice of the Employee Survey
Our leadership believes that encouraging regular, honest feedback is critical to the well-being of our organization. To this end, OTDI administers a Voice of the Employee (VOE) survey to gather input from staff on our organization’s culture.
The Voice of the Employee survey committee is responsible for this survey. The committee partners with the Office of Research to review the survey questions, test the survey instrument, promote the survey through invitations and incentives, analyze, review and share the results with our organization, and suggest data-based action plans for future projects.
Working with the Office of Research ensures confidentially throughout the entire process so that all employees can feel comfortable providing their candid feedback on the survey. The timeframe for this work typically runs from April through July.
Committee leads: Aaron Pickering and Jenna Price
Interested in joining the committee? Reach out to Aaron Pickering.46@osu.edu or Jenna Price.1323@osu.edu for more information.
OTDI Historical Timeline
The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) boasts a rich and dynamic history, reflecting decades of evolution and growth. From its early beginnings under various names and reporting lines, OTDI has continually adapted to meet the changing needs of a vibrant academic community.
Through the years, OTDI has introduced countless innovations and services, always striving to provide cutting-edge technology and expert technical support to Ohio State’s students, faculty and staff. Today, OTDI remains dedicated to empowering learning, teaching and research through its unwavering commitment to technological excellence and innovation.
History of OTDI Video Series
Watch Organizational Heritage: Part I
Watch Organizational Heritage: Part II
Organizational Timeline
Organizational Changes
1944 Teaching Aids Laboratory (TAL) forms
1954 Numerical Computation Laboratory (NCL) founded
1961 Office of Part-Time and Continuing Education formed
1964 NCL becomes Computer Center
1965 Office of Part-Time and Continuing Education renamed Division of Continuing Education
1968 Office of Learning Resources (OLR) forms, includes TAL
1970 Computer Center is renamed Instruction and Research Computer Center (IRCC)
1972 Office of Administrative Systems Computing merges with Computing Center becoming University Systems
1980* Office of Academic Computing formed (Q4 1978 through January 1981)
1985 University Network Integrated Telecommunications System (UNITS) formed
1986 Office of Learning Resources (OLR) becomes Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)
1990 IRCC becomes Academic Computing Services (ACS)
1993 Center for Teaching Excellence becomes Center for Instructional Resources (CIR) under ACS
1994 ACS, CIR, & Office of Academic Computing (OAC) merge to create Academic Technology Services
1994 University Systems merges with Academic Technology Services
1994 Administrative Resource Management Systems (ARMS) formed
1995 Chief Information Officer (CIO) position created by Provost
1995 Academic Technology Services and University Systems merge to become University Technology Services (UTS)
1996 Applied Technology Services (ATS) formed (under UTS)
1998 Emerging Technologies formed
1998 Enterprise Networking formed
1998 ACS becomes Technology Enhanced Learning and Research (TELR)
1998 UNITS moves from Business and Administration to UTS
2000 UTS and ARMS become the Office of Information Technology (OIT)
2000 UNITS merges with Enterprise Networking becoming Telecommunications and Networking
2001 Telecommunications and Networking joins OIT
2001 Emerging Technologies joins TELR
2008 ATS, TELR, & Classroom Services join becoming Learning Technology
2010 OIT becomes Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
2011 OSUPro merges with Learning Technology
2011 Enterprise Security formed
2012 Learning Technology and Continuing Education merge to form the Office of Distance Education and eLearning (ODEE) with Mike Hofherr as Vice President, separates from OCIO
2016 Digital Accessibility Services formed
2022 OCIO, ODEE, and Enterprise Security merge to form the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI)
2023 Digital Learning and Student Success separates, becomes Digital Learning reporting to Provost Melissa Gilliam
2025 Office of Technology and Digital Innovation are moved under the Office of Administration and Planning
Building Moves
1944 TAL moves into Page Hall
1946 TAL recording studio opens in Derby Hall
1953 TAL moves to College Road Cafeteria (WWII Quonset hut)
1965 Lord Hall offices occupied (Teaching Aids Laboratory for equipment check out)
1968 Computer Center staff and IBM 360 mainframe moved to Baker Systems Engineering (BSE)
1982 Kinnear Road Center (KRC) purchased from OCLC
1983 KRC opens with University Systems
1984 Mainframe moves to KRC
1984 Telephone Services moves into Lincoln Tower
1985 Telecommunications Network Center (TNC) purchased from Ohio Bell Telephone Company
1986 UNITS moves to TNC
2001 TELR moves into Science and Engineering Library (SEL)
2006 Move out of Lord Hall, Move into Central Classroom Building
2006 BuckeyeBar relocates from BSE to Central Classroom Building
2008 Senior leadership moves into Thompson Library offices
2009 Airport Drive Center opens
2009 BuckeyeBar relocates to Thompson Library (Day one service of newly renovated library)
2012 ODEE moves into Mount Hall
2013 Central Classroom Building renamed Enarson Classroom Building
2015 Ohio State Data Center relocated to the State of Ohio Computer Center (SOCC)
2015 KRC Decommissioned
2015 Mount Hall offices relocated to St. John Arena
2015 Mount Hall renovation begins
2017 Renovated Mount Hall opens
2017 St. John Arena, BSE, Thompson Library, and ADC offices relocated to Mount Hall
2017 IT Service Desk (ITSD) moves to TNC
2020 ITSD Frontline employees move remote
2022 ITSD Desktop Support and Asset Management move to Mount Hall
2023 Enterprise Networking moves to Mount Hall
Services and Initiatives
1955 NCL introduces noncredit computing workshops
1985 Nortel SL-100 Phone system is installed in TNC to service 292 and 293 exchanges replacing Ohio Bell Telephone service
1986 SONNET (System of Neighboring Networks) launched, portion of the first fiber optics network on campus
1986 UNITS’ Show & Tele phone store opens in TNC
1986 MONIES telemanagement system installed
1987 UNITS disconnects campus from Ohio Bell Centrex telephone system
1987 SL-100 replaces Road Runner (PLUS Code) system for long distance service
1987 All residence halls are rewired for touch-tone telephones
1987 UNITS activates Enhanced 911 system
1987 CRAY supercomputer installed at KRC
1988 4-HELP “hotline” phone number created for classroom support
1988 SONNET is linked to ARPANET and NSFNET, soon to be known as the Internet
1988 Migration to UNITS telephone service completed
1988 UNITS introduces fax service
1988 UNITS assists with the first fiber-optic linked video broadcast for an Ohio State basketball game
1989 UNITS establishes 5-digit dialing, voicemail, Infolink audiotext, and multi-party teleconference service across main and regional campuses
1990 SONNET extends to regional campuses
1990 MAGNUS installed to handle campus email, accounts given to anyone with a valid OSU ID
1991 UNITS installs cable TV in undergraduate residence halls, offers cellular phone service
1992 UNITS offers pager service and TDD/TTY
1992 First (CAT5) high-speed data transmission wiring in Derby Hall
1993 HomeNet/OfficeNet (free dial-up Internet access) launched
1993 UNITS installs first ISDN telephone lines
1993 UNITS adds campus-run movie channel to campus cable TV system
1994 UNITS adds the 688 exchange
1995 Call Waiting becomes first telephone feature in undergraduate residence halls
1995 Security Working Group (SECWOG) founded
1995 ResNet for residence hall students launched, beginning with Jones Tower
1996 Migrated from Monies to COMIT billing system
1996 PeopleSoft implemented
1996 Technology Support Center/Help Desk opens
1996 UTS establishes a Year 2000 Problem clearinghouse
1997 Student Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) established
1997 Business Partner Advisory Group (BPAC) established
1997 292-3131 phone number created for Equipment Loan in Lord Hall
1997 UNITS installs ENET (Enhanced NETwork) upgrading switching matrix to fiber from copper
1997 PeopleSoft launched for HR
1997 Single Sign-On implemented
1998 WebCT launches as first learning management system (LMS)
1998 UNITS offers CallerID
1998 ResNet wiring completed
1998 PeopleSoft launched for Procurement (supply chain)
1999 UNITS starts providing phone service to regional campuses, 247 exchange added
1999 First Internet2 H.323 Megaconference (World's largest H.323 Internet videoconference)
1999 UNITS adds the 247 exchange
2000 OSUWeb.net launches (paid dial-up, web, & pre-OSUwireless WiFi Internet access)
2000 PeopleSoft launched for Finance, concluding ARMS project
2000 SONNET renamed to OSUnet
2000 UNITS installs campus-owned payphones on Columbus campus
2000 NetFlow paper authored for InfoSec, first working receiver developed by Mark Fullmer & Steve Romig
2003 Transportable Satellite Internet System (TSIS) created
2003 Nortel MCS5100 installed, first VoIP system
2003 UNITS cable television as standard service in university housing, includes student-run Buckeye TV and Radio channels to campus cable TV system
2003 Streaming media delivery launches
2003 First BuckeyeBar opens on BSE 5th floor as an expansion and rebranding of the walk-in IT support “Microcomputer Consultation Area”
2003 Digital Accessibility Policy issued
2003 webmail.osu.edu launched
2003 Rockwell launched
2004 Shibboleth implemented
2004 BuckeyeLink (Student Portal Project) launched
2004 Digital Language Lab launches for online delivery of foreign language media
2004 First Digital Union open in the Science and Engineering Library
2004 PeopleSoft upgrade for Finance deployed
2005 Portable trailers sent to Hurricane Katrina relief
2005 Desire2Learn launched as new LMS, branded Carmen
2005 All classroom and Student Computer Center computers connected to the Internet
2005 Telecommunications and Networking (2-UNIT) Call center joins IT Service Desk (ITSD)
2005 CIC replaces Rockwell
2006 OSU Wireless launches
2006 Nortel SL-100 upgraded to CS2100, allowing the first Wi-Fi VoIP on campus
2007 Ohio State joins iTunesU
2007 ITIL adopted
2007 First Institutional Data Policy written
2007 First security standards authored for minimum, critical servers, web servers, & database servers
2008 eTravel implemented
2008 Learning Collaboration Studio opens
2008 PeopleSoft launched for Campus Solutions/Student Information System - Phase 1
2008 CanIt anti-spam launched
2009 Service-Now replaces Remedy
2009 PeopleSoft launched for Campus Solutions/Student Information System - Phase 2
2009 University Email Service (UES) launched, email migrated to Exchange 2010
2009 BuckeyeMail launched
2009 Email Consolidation Project begins, combining 100+ email systems to one central system
2009 Media Services Online Library launches
2010 First Innovate Conference
2010 Digital First Initiative begins
2010 4-HELP and Classroom Support become part of ITSD
2010 First Cybersecurity Days (preceded by SecWog)
2010 Media Services Online Library renamed to Secured Media Library
2010 First Information Technology (IT) Security Policy written
2010 eRequest implemented
2010 HomeNet/OfficeNet & OSUWeb.net retired
2010 IdM Deployment starts
2010 Reward and Recognition program launched with the Alan Albertus GEM and Marilyn Farish Awards
2011 Buckeye Box launches
2011 The Ohio State App launches
2011 my.osu.edu launched
2011 University Operators and "Option 2" become part of ITSD
2012 Lync Server 2010 for instant messaging installed
2012 Sun Java System Communications Suite webmail system retired
2012 McAfee antivirus launches
2012 Research In View launches
2012 ITSD assumes desktop support for OCIO
2012 Digital Language Lab renamed (Carmen Language Library followed by) Foreign Language Library
2012 IdM Deployment completes
2012 Neutral Host Wireless Distribution System contract awarded to Verizon for Cellular Distributed Antenna System (supporting Columbus Campus, OSU Medical Center, Ohio Stadium, and Jerome Schottenstein Center)
2012 Splunk launched
2012 CIC upgraded and migrated to VMs, rebranded PureConnect
2012 ForeFront Antispam launched
2013 2 New Digital Unions open: Hagerty Hall & Stillman Hall
2013 CarmenConnect launches
2013 Qualtrics launches
2013 Wexner Center for the Arts added as a Managed IT Partner (first MITS paying client)
2013 Business Finance/Administration and Planning added as a Managed IT Partner (OAA directive)
2013 Office of Human Resources added as a Managed IT Partner (OAA directive)
2013 ODEE Resource Center Launched
2014 The Ohio State University at Mansfield added as a Managed IT Partner
2014 100% of pool classrooms meet standard
2014 Digital First concludes
2014 Two new Digital Unions open: Denney Hall and Enarson Classroom Building
2014 Mediasite launches
2014 Peoplesoft v9.2 upgrade (for HR & SIS) deployed (last prior to Workday)
2014 Ohio State app exceeds 1 million screen views on the first day of Autumn term
2014 Symantec Endpoint Protection replaces McAfee (~1 year gap between services)
2014 Password expiration extended from 90 to 180 days
2014 ForeFront Antispam migrates to Exchange Online Protect (EOP)
2014 Email Consolidation Project completed
2015 Workday Finance project launches
2015 Enterprise Integration Platform (EIP) launched
2015 Tech Hub store opens
2015 Second BuckeyeBar opens within new Tech Hub
2015 DocuSign eSignature launched (via Internet2)
2015 Affordable Learning Exchange launches
2015 Impact Grant program begins
2015 The Ohio State University at Lima added as a Managed IT Partner
2015 Ohio State Online launched with Master of Global Engineering Leadership as first program offering
2015 BuckeyeLearn (Cornerstone) launched
2015 Enterprise Document Management (OnBase) launched
2016 Lync Server 2010 upgraded to Skype for Business 2015
2016 Ribbon SBC 5110 SBC Core and Policy servers installed as new telephony voice core
2016 Mobile First Initiative begins
2016 BuckeyePass multi-factor authentication with Duo implemented
2016 Canvas launched as new LMS
2016 Authorized for distance delivery in all 50 states
2016 Affordable Learning Exchange (ALX) launched
2016 Faculty Innovation Center opens
2016 Enterprise Project deploying Workday (Finance, HCM, and Student) begins
2016 The Ohio State University at Marion added as a Managed IT Partner
2017 Vita Faculty Information System launches
2017 Standardized IT support across all campuses begins
2017 Managed Network service launched
2017 ITSD Desktop Support staff start providing onsite support
2017 Microsoft 365 deployed
2017 LanDesk 10 Upgrade
2017 Technology Enhanced Meeting Spaces (TEMS) service launched for Managed IT Partners
2017 Mansfield campus migrates to Skype
2017 Marion campus migrates to Skype
2017 JIRA replaces Asana
2017 CarmenBooks launched
2017 Students added to BuckeyePass
2018 Moritz College of Law added as a Managed IT Partner
2018 Translational Data & Analytics Institute added as a Managed IT Partner
2018 Digital Flagship begins
2018 Ohio State: Discover orientation mobile app launched (with first wave of iPads)
2018 Mobile Printing begins
2018 Privileged Access Management (PAM) (with Secret Server) launches
2018 Campus Wi-Fi project begins
2018 Amazon Web Services (AWS) begins
2018 New Life Safety Analog/SIP Gateway installed
2018 Email migrated from on-premises to Exchange Online
2019 The Ohio State University at Newark + COTC added as a Managed IT Partner
2019 College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences including Wooster Campus and Extension added as a Managed IT Partners
2019 College of Public Health added as a Managed IT Partner
2019 TEMS expanded to include MITS customer non-pool classrooms and teaching spaces
2019 Zoom replaces CarmenConnect
2019 Microsoft Teams PC-to-PC and Conference service launched
2019 Ohio Stadium supports nation’s highest number of concurrent Wi-Fi devices and data consumed at an athletic venue
2019 Innovate X is the last in-person conference
2019 ODEE Resource Center becomes Teaching and Learning Resource Center, a multi-unit partnership
2019 Cybersecurity For You (C4U) launched
2019 Mobile Design Lab created as part of Digital Flagship
2019 Tableau launched
2020 Guacamole for remote desktop launched
2020 Office of Academic Affairs including OSAS/SAE, Graduate School, Office of the President, Board of Trustees, and Office of International Affairs added as a Managed IT Partners
2020 Digital Fax Gateway launched
2020 Ohio State: Wellness App mental health and well-being mobile app launched
2020 Cybersecurity Days goes virtual
2020 BuckeyeBox retired
2020 Workday deployment complete
2020 Compass launched
2020 Administrative Resource Center (ARC) website launched
2020 ODEE RC becomes Teaching and Learning Resource Center (TLRC)
2020 Azure services launched
2020 Buckeye360 (Salesforce) launched (part of Enterprise Project)
2021 Nortel CS2100 retired (after 36 years), Skype for Business replaces all analog phones
2021 Additional cloud authentication methods added to PAM via HashiCorp Vault
2021 Innovate goes virtual
2021 Crowdstrike replaces Symantec Endpoint Protection
2021 Tableau integrated into Workday
2021 PAM surpasses 2,000 users
2022 John Glenn College of Public Affairs added as a Managed IT Partner
2022 eTools (eRequest and eTravel) decommissioned
2022 Adobe Creative Cloud launches for students, faculty, and staff
2022 Innovate conference series concludes with Innovate: Connect
2022 Student Technology Loan Program launched
2022 PAM surpasses 20,000 secrets stored
2022 Telephony Copper Cable Consolidation project begins
2022 Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) implemented
2023 Office of Marketing & Communication added as a Managed IT Partner
2023 Phone service migration from Skype for Business Server 2015 to Microsoft Teams begins
2023 Contact Center telephony service migrates to Genesys Cloud
2023 Operational Data Store (ODS) Passwords Management launches
2023 Students added to C4U
2023 BuckeyeLink redesigned to use in-house backend
2023 PureConnect (CIC) migrated to Genesys EX
2023 PAM surpasses 4.000 users
2023 Qualtrics launched for centralized administration of surveys
2023 Tableau reaches 100k+ public dashboard views per quarter
2023 OSU Wireless migration to eduroam begins
2023 VAST Storage migration (into 2024)
2023 Social Work added as a Managed IT Partner (currently onboarding, ETA late 2023-2024)
2023 Identity preferences (preferred name, pronouns, & gender) enabled in Canvas, Zoom, BuckeyeLink, Ohio State app, and my.osu.edu
2023 Copilot (generative AI chatbot) enabled (with commercial data protection) for campus
CIOs and CISOs
1993 Edward John Ray named Chief Information Officer (CIO)
1998 James F. Davis named as Interim CIO
2000 Eileen Strider named Interim CIO
2000 Mike Veres named Interim CIO
2000 Ilee Rhimes Jr. named second CIO
2007 Mike Veres named Interim CIO
2008 Kathy Starkoff named third CIO
2011 Julie Talbot-Hubbard named first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
2013 Mike Hofherr named Interim CIO
2013 Helen Patton named as first CISO
2014 Mike Hofherr named fourth CIO
2020 Diane Dagefoerde named Interim CIO
2021 Rich Nagle named Interim CISO
2021 Cindy Leavitt named fifth CIO
2021 Rich Nagle named as second CISO
2024 Ginger Breon named Interim CIO
2025 Rob Lowden named sixth CIO
Notable Retirements
1988 Marilyn A. Farish retires
1992 Dino Pezzutti retires
2001 Dr. Bob Dixon retires
2004 Alan Albertus passes
2009 Mike Veres retires
2009 Marty Fox retires
2009 Mitch Dysart retires
2009 Bill Hoza retires
2010 Bill Hoza re-retires
2011 Larry Glover retires (to play poker professionally)
2011 Gene Batey retires
2011 Chuck Morrow-Jones retires
2013 Brian O’Brien retires
2015 Eric Todd retires
2015 Terry Reeves retires
2016 Gina Harmon retires
2019 Clay Michalowski retires
2019 Dave Kieffer retires
2019 Jim Tufano retires
2021 Bob Corbin retires
2021 Tom Bell retires
2021 Jim Buckley retires
2021 Bryce Bate retires
2022 Bill Phillips retires
2022 Joyce Shively retires
2023 Steve Romig retires
University and Perspective Milestones
1912 Ohio State joins the Big Ten
1940 Howard Landis Bevis named seventh President
1955 First commercial pager introduced, the Motorola Pageboy
1956 Ohio State purchases its first stored-program computer, the IBM 650
1956 Novice Gail Fawcett named 8th President
1962 First public computing lab opens in Robinson Lab
1970 First commercially produced portable calculator
1972 Harold Leroy Enarson named 9th President
1977 Apple II introduced, Microsoft founded
1981 IBM introduces the personal computer, Xerox introduces the STAR 8010 with WYSIWYG and mouse
1981 Edward Harrington Jennings named 10th President
1981 First commercially successful portable computer introduced, the Osborne 1
1982 Apple introduces the Lisa with a GUI, Time magazine names the computer “Man of the Year”
1983 OSU links with BITNET
1984 Provost creates a Computers and the Future of the University Task Force to create “an electronic campus within the decade”
1984 First commercial cellular phone introduced, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X
1985 OSU Researchers begin using the State of Ohio’s Cray Supercomputer
1985 First university computer store (in Lord Hall)
1985 CD-ROM drives are introduced
1986 Personal computers deployed to offices
1987 Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) and Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) created
1987 SONNET is used for the first distance learning video transmission, via satellite uplink/downlink
1987 First documented computer virus infection recorded (at University of Delaware)
1990 E. Gordon Gee named 11th President
1991 First modern laptop introduced, the Macintosh PowerBook
1992 First PDA introduced, the Apple Newton
1993 Intel Pentium introduced
1994 World Wide Web makes its first appearance on campus
1995 Registrar begins distributing approved schedules and grades by email
1995 Buckeye Access 2 launched (First self-service web application for students)
1996 Internet2 formed
1997 OSU joins the Internet2 research project
1997 John Richard Sisson named Interim President
1998 William English Kirwan named 12th President
1999 ITEC-Ohio created
2000 Y2K
2000 Name.# implemented
2001 Wikipedia is founded
2002 Edward Harrington Jennings named Interim President
2002 Karen Ann Holbrook named 13th President
2002 First smartphone introduced, the T-Mobile Sidekick
2004 First strategic plan created
2004 Third Frontier Network created
2007 Joseph A. Alutto named Interim President
2007 E. Gordon Gee named 14th President
2007 Apple iPhone introduced, first touchscreen smartphone
2008 OSC and OARnet split, CIO joins OARnet’s governance committee
2010 Apple iPad introduced
2011 Ohio Technology Consortium (OH-TECH) formed
2012 OSU transitions from quarters to semesters
2013 Joseph A. Alutto named Interim President
2014 Michael V. Drake named 15th President
2014 Apple iPad Air commercial featuring The Ohio State University Marching Band, "TBDBITL"
2014 $13.5m College Ready Ohio grant received
2014 Ohio State joins Unizin as a founding member
2015 Apple Watch introduced
2020 COVID Pandemic
2020 Kristina M. Johnson named 16th President
2022 Artificial intelligence made publicly available
2023 Peter Mohler named Acting President
2024 Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. named 17th President (named in 2023, beginning term January 1, 2024)
History of OTDI in Photos
Take a trip down memory lane with this special photo compilation celebrating the incredible staff of the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) through the years. From the early days to the present, these snapshots capture the faces, teamwork, and milestones that have shaped OTDI into the thriving organization it is today.
History of OTDI Video Series
The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation’s History of OTDI video series shares brief interviews with managers and service owners as they share background information, project high points, and plans for the future in an informal format. You’ll learn about the Digital Unions across campus, how the networking team makes Wi-Fi accessible to over 100,000 fans in Ohio Stadium, and so much more! Get your OTDI questions answered through this exciting series. Each video will showcase how the important work coming out of the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation advances the academic and professional success of the Ohio State community and beyond.