Wright, who specializes in information security and business continuity planning, comes to UAB from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she has served as assistant vice chancellor for information security and director of research collaboration. Prior to that time she worked from 2001-2006 at Oklahoma State University as director of computing and information services and then as information security officer. She also has an extensive non-academic information technology background.

“Sallie’s experiences at Oklahoma State and UNC Chapel Hill will be of great benefit as we continue to build a first-class data security operation at UAB,” said Sheila Sanders, UAB vice president for Information Technology. “Her leadership positions in outside industry and as a VP for IT will also serve to enhance an already strong team in place.

“Sallie’s experiences are broad and cover all areas of IT, from enterprise resource planning projects to e-mail and network projects and most recently with research,” Sanders said. “I have asked her to take the lead on several key upcoming projects which will benefit from her unique background.”

Heather Maddox White, director of administration and fiscal affairs for the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology, chaired the search committee that selected Wright. Other members were Joe March, Ph.D., Chemistry; Michelle Robinson, D.D.S., Dentistry; Sabrina Hearn, Internal Audit; and Harlan Sands, Office of the Provost.

Wright, a certified information systems security professional (CISSP), received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northeastern State University in 1984 and her master’s in management from Webster University in 1992. Prior to her career in academic information technology she worked in increasing levels of responsibility for the Fort James Corporation (now Georgia Pacific), Circuit City and USA Floral Products. She has taught master’s- and senior-level courses in systems analysis, operating systems and the social impact of computer science.

She is an active member of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology, and has served on the group’s Security Task Force for many years.