CSM Appoints Valarie Burks as Vice President of Division of Information Management and Technology

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) announces CSM Associate Vice President of Information Management and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Valarie Burks was promoted to Vice President of the newly formed Division of Information Management and Technology (IMT). The establishment of the Division of Information Management and Technology – which separates the Information Management Department from the Division of Operations and Planning – highlights the importance of CSM’s strategic focus on digital transformation, IT governance, emerging technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.

“In today’s environment of heightened network security and the growing threats to an organization’s cybersecurity, our leadership understands the critical need to elevate our emphasis on our information technology,” said CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson. “Over the past 18 months, I have worked closely with Valarie Burks in steadfastly addressing these evolving challenges. And, in doing so, it became abundantly clear that this pivotal function is one that should report directly to the president’s office, with Val, our excellent CIO, providing expert guidance on these ever-evolving issues.”

Wilson further explained that elevating IMT to a division demonstrates the business-critical function that information technology has at CSM, and the vital work necessary to address the college’s evolving infrastructure needs.

“It remains an honor and privilege to serve as the College of Southern Maryland’s CIO,” Burks shared. “I am excited to lead this new division and look forward to leading our strategic and transformational technology solutions.”

Burks has joined the CSM team in 2022 with more than 26 years in the private and public sector handling the successful delivery of IT programs and operational services.

Burks served as the chief information officer for the NASA Office of Education, providing shared information technology (IT) services across 10 NASA Centers and to thousands of customers external to NASA. In addition, Burks was the chief information security officer at NASA and US Department of Agriculture, building and developing programs to define and execute the strategic, tactical, and operational direction for enterprise IT services, secure networks, and products. She successfully led organizations that faced challenges that parallel that of higher education institutions including remote/distance learning, student/user success focused initiatives, privacy, growing security threat compositions, sustainable funding, strategic planning and communication strategies.

Burks received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and her master’s in Computer Systems Management from University of Maryland, University College. She participated in American University’s Executive Leadership Program and Harvard’s Women’s Leadership Forum.