Jose Bernier named VP of information and technology at SUNY Orange

MIDDLETOWN — SUNY Orange has hired the former vice chancellor for information services and chief information officer at the University of Hawai’i Maui Community College to serve as its vice president for information technology and CIO.

In his role at Maui College, Jose Bernier managed the Information Technology Department, supporting more than 5,000 users at five educational centers located on three different islands, and developed programs that utilized distance learning technology. He also managed the college’s distance learning infrastructure - including a college television studio - in order to provide a state-of-the-art learning experience for online and remote students while also assisting faculty in implementing innovative learning initiatives.

Bernier helped Maui College create, and support through technology, alliances with peer institutions around the world, including KURE University in Japan, South Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada and Shanghai Normal University in China.

At SUNY Orange, Bernier will oversee the college’s Information and Technology Services Department and also serve in a significant leadership capacity as a member of the president’s cabinet. The ITS staff manages the deployment of a wide array of instructional and operational technologies for use by the college’s more than 7,000 students and nearly 1,300 full- and part-time faculty and staff on the Middletown and Newburgh campuses.

Before arriving at Maui College, Bernier spent nearly three years as associate chief information officer and information security officer at Saint Leo University in Florida. Prior to that, he enjoyed a five-year tenure at the University of Florida in Gainesville as senior/assistant director of information technology.

Bernier earned his doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Florida in December 2009. He also holds an educational specialist degree in higher education administration from UF, as well as a master’s degree in management information systems from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Central Florida.

Bernier began his professional career in the private sector in the state of Florida, holding assistant network analyst, network administrator and senior systems analyst positions for Lochrane Engineering Inc. (Orlando), City National Bank of Florida (Miami), and Johnson & Johnson Medical (Miami), respectively.