Briar Cliff Welcomes New Chief Information Officer

October 12, 2022

Briar Cliff University welcomes new Chief Information Officer (CIO) Mark Lumsden. Lumsden has over 36 years of IT experience and has helped lead initiatives ranging from interactive classrooms, distance learning instructional technologies, and strategic planning to name a few. He will also be the newest member of the President’s cabinet at Briar Cliff.

“We are excited to have Mark join the Briar Cliff team,” says Dr. Todd Knealing. “Mark brings a lot of experience in information technologies, and we look forward to his skillset to helping the university continue to grow and meet the ever-evolving and critical needs of this industry.”

Lumsden previously served as the CIO at the Florida Institute of Technology, CIO at Buena Vista University, Operations Manager at Iowa Communications Network, Project Manager for the State of Iowa, and CIO for the City of West Des Moines in Iowa.

As Briar Cliff’s CIO, Lumsden will implement strategies and select technologies to improve the university. He will maintain technology needs such as purchases, security, network infrastructure, strategy, compliance and regulations, and operations of the team.

Lumsden holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Telecommunications from Iowa Central Community College, along with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Buena Vista University, and a Master of Business Administration from Drake University. He was awarded the Master Presenter award by the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development at the University of Texas at Austin and has also served as a Certified Public Manager for the State of Iowa.