Mount Holyoke appoints new Chief Information Officer

Dear members of the Mount Holyoke community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Warren ’90 as the incoming Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective July 20, 2026. Karen returns to her alma mater from Wesleyan University, where she served as the associate vice president for information technology and deputy CIO since 2016. A graduate who earned her degree in English with cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors, Karen possesses a deep understanding of the liberal arts environment and a personal commitment to our mission, as well as a deep love for the campus and Williston Memorial Library in particular. She has a principled dedication to the responsible stewardship and continued vitality of the library in support of its important connection to our academic mission.

Her more than three decades of experience include significant achievements in strategic infrastructure and enterprise-wide initiatives. At Wesleyan, Karen provided critical leadership for the university’s Workday implementation and spearheaded the adoption of AVoIP technologies for learning spaces. She is a forward-thinking leader in emerging technology, having facilitated cabinet-level discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence in higher education.

Karen’s career is also defined by her commitment to inclusive leadership and community service. During her 15-year tenure at the American School for the Deaf, she served as IT director and became fully conversational in American Sign Language. Her professional expertise is recognized nationally through her service on the Board of Directors for EDUCAUSE, her previous role as chair of the board for the Northeast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP) and her receipt of the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Connecticut Education Network. In April, Karen was awarded the Mark Berman Community Leadership Award at the NERCOMP annual conference. Her ability to bridge technical solutions with institutional needs makes her an ideal leader to guide our Library, Information and Technology Services (LITS) team into its next chapter.

I want to thank the members of the search committee, especially co-chairs Carl Ries and Kate Singer, for their dedicated work in bringing this search to a successful conclusion. I also extend my deepest gratitude to our Interim Co-Chief Information Officers, David Powicki and Rachael Smith, for their steady leadership and exceptional service during this transition period.

Please join me in welcoming Karen Warren MoHome as we look forward to the expertise and vision she will bring to our community.

Sincerely,

Danielle R. Holley
President