Friday, March 25, 2011

Debra Saunders-White, vice chancellor for information technology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has been tapped by the Obama administration to serve as deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs (HEP) for the U.S. Department of Education.

"I am excited about the opportunity to serve our president and this nation as we collectively strive to win the future through education," said Saunders-White. "It was with pride that I stood on the mall in Washington some two plus years ago as the first man who looked like my father took the oath to govern our great nation. Never in my wildest imagination did I dream that I would have the opportunity to become a part of his administration."

Saunders-White will be responsible for administering programs to increase access to postsecondary education for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities. She will oversee programs to strengthen the capacity of colleges and universities serving a high percentage of disadvantaged students by strengthening academic programs and institutional management, improving physical plants and increasing endowments. She will also administer the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to promote reform, innovation and improvement in postsecondary education.

"I am so pleased that Deb has received this incredible opportunity," said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. "While we will feel her loss at UNCW, we are proud that she will be working to improve access to higher education throughout the nation. There is a huge need for leadership in this area, and Deb will work tirelessly to provide it, as she has done during her tenure here."

While at UNCW, Saunders-White initiated numerous innovative and significant information technology projects and improvements, including:

• Improved security protocols and operational efficiencies, resulting in faster service to the campus community
• National recognition for mobile services, including the innovative partnership with Mobile LLC that provides students with real-time information on university services via text message
• Co-development of the UNCW Learning Commons, a technology-supported space for student learning and collaboration in Randall Library
• Creation of the ITSD Merit Scholarship in support of the UNCW Honors Program
• Development of a computer literacy program providing a lab and technology education for the Wilmington Housing Authority's Hillcrest neighborhood.
• Co-creation of the Southeastern North Carolina Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council

Saunders-White came to UNCW in 2006 from Hampton University, where she served as vice president of technology and the university's first chief information officer. She holds an Ed.D. in higher education administration from George Washington University, an MBA from The College of William and Mary and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Saunders-White will leave UNCW in early May to report to her new post in Washington, D.C.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu