UMass Amherst is making a significant shift in how it organizes and delivers technology across campus, and a new leadership role is helping shape that future.
Patty Roper, currently Senior Director of Administration & Finance IT, has been appointed Deputy Chief Technology Officer, effective September 22, 2025.
Patty currently leads A&F IT, the second-largest IT unit on campus. Her experience gives her a strong foundation in the opportunities and challenges of distributed IT. She has built partnerships across academic and administrative units and has led teams through change with a focus on both service and strategy.
“It’s a privilege to help lead this next phase of IT at UMass,” said Roper. “We have incredibly talented people across campus. By working together more intentionally, we can create something that’s not only more coordinated, but more empowering for staff and for the communities we support.”
This new role is part of a broader UMass initiative to bring together central and distributed IT teams under one coordinated structure. The goal is to improve consistency, strengthen security, and deliver more effective support for teaching, research, and university operations.
“We’re designing an IT organization that’s built for where the University is headed,” said Christopher Misra, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and CIO. “That means creating clarity, reducing risk, and giving staff across campus the structure and support they need to succeed. Patty has a deep understanding of what that takes. She knows the people and the systems, and she leads with both perspective and purpose.”
In addition to the Deputy CTO role, several other new leadership positions have been established to guide this transition, including a Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, an Academic Digital Solutions Business Partner, and a planned Technical Lead for Learning Technologies. These roles underscore the university’s investment in building a stronger and more resilient IT organization.
These changes are designed to reduce duplication, improve coordination, and support the university’s growing need for consistent and proactive cybersecurity. The transition is being approached with a focus on collaboration and continuity. While the structure is changing, the relationships and localized support that departments rely on will remain a priority.