Theresa Pardo Named Director of UAlbany's Center for Technology in Government

 

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 8, 2009) -- Theresa Pardo has been named director of the University at Albany's Center for Technology in Government (CTG). Pardo, an alumnus of UAlbany, has served as deputy director at CTG since 2002. CTG is a world-renowned digital government research and practice center, bringing together the University�s strength in public policy research with the latest knowledge in information technology.

"Dr. Pardo is an eminent scholar in her field with a strong record of external funding and demonstrated leadership who will continue to expand CTG�s global leadership position in digital government research and practice," said Lynn Videka, vice president of research at the University at Albany. "I am delighted that we have attracted such a dynamic and accomplished leader to drive the future of CTG."

"I want to thank the University, Vice President Videka and all those involved in the search process for the opportunity to lead CTG during this important period of technological innovation and government reform," said Pardo. "The Center is a unique resource, bringing together award-winning research and solution-focused partnerships at all levels of government and around the world. I look forward to working with the exemplary staff of the Center and our extensive network of partners as we continue to explore the potential of technology as a tool for government transformation."

"CTG is a unique organization that links research and government in a dynamic partnership," said Sharon Dawes, founding director of CTG and current senior fellow.  "As director, Theresa Pardo will bring not only leadership, great talent, and experience, but a keen sense of how that relationship can deliver lasting value to both the academic and public sectors.  Her creativity and commitment to excellence will lead the Center into a future filled with change and opportunity."

"The University could not have made a better choice for the new director of CTG," said Lawrence Brandt, program director, Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, National Science Foundation. "Theresa has been key in defining and creating the academic study of electronic government. Her leadership and energy in various positions at CTG over the last ten years has been exemplary.  I'm looking forward to finding out where her vision will take the international eGov community in the future."

"Theresa has been a vital part of the Center's past success since she joined over a decade ago, so it is great news that she can now continue and expand that role as director," said Anthony Cresswell, former interim director and current deputy director. "She has the knowledge, insight, deep experience, and creative drive to lead CTG to even greater success. We are looking forward to working with Theresa to build on CTG's position as the leading research and development center in the dynamic world of government technology."

"Theresa brings a wealth of talent and energy to the position and I am personally and professionally delighted," said Gregory Benson, executive director of The NYS Forum. "In particular, as a member of the CTG Advisory Board, I feel entirely confident that the distinguished history of CTG initiatives, that have held implications and benefits for local governments as well as other countries, will be sustained in excellent fashion under Theresa�s leadership."

Theresa Pardo
Pardo received her bachelor�s degree in political science, her master�s degree in educational administration, and her doctorate in information science from the University at Albany.  Pardo holds an appointment as research associate professor at UAlbany�s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and is an affiliate faculty member of Informatics, College of Computing and Information.

As deputy director at CTG, Pardo has worked with a variety of government, corporate, and university partners to conduct applied research projects on the policy, management, and technology issues surrounding information use in the public sector.

Pardo�s research at CTG has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the  Department of Justice, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives and Records Administration, among others.  Her current NSF-funded work is focused on the development of models of social and technical interactions in cross-boundary information integration in public health and public safety.  She also currently serves as co-chair of a NSF-funded international working group focused on building a research agenda for North American comparative and transnational digital government.

Pardo has written more than 90 articles, research reports, book chapters, and case studies focusing on IT innovation in the public sector, cross-boundary information sharing, trust and knowledge sharing, preservation of government records in digital form, and multi-method research.  She was recently identified as the second most prolific author in her field from 245 core members of a larger research community of 800.

She is an elected member of the Board for the Digital Government Society of North America and she serves on the editorial board for Government Information Quarterly, among others. She is also an active member of many organizing and program committees for academic conferences and workshops, including the International Digital Government Research Conference (dg.o) and the Egovernment Emerging Technologies Track of the Hawaiian International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS).

Pardo was recently appointed senior adviser to the Informatization Research Institution, State Information Center, Peoples Republic of China. She was also recently named to the Advisory Board of the Data Center for Applied Research in Social Sciences (BIIACS), part of Centro de Investigaci�n y Docencia Econ�micas, A.C. (CIDE) in Mexico.

Before coming to CTG in 1994, Theresa's work focused on the use of information technology in higher education. Her most recent prior position was as director of Academic Computer Services at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y.

The Center for Technology in Government is an applied research center devoted to improving government and public services through policy, management, and technology innovation. The Center, located at the University at Albany, works with government to develop well-informed information strategies that foster innovation and enhances the quality and coordination of public services.

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