UAB Vice President and Chief Information Officer Curtis A. Carver Jr., Ph.D., has announced he will retire at the end of 2025, ending more than a decade of overseeing technology innovation at UAB.
Carver’s tenure has been marked by technology advances. Most recently, he was named co-chairman of Igniting Data Insights, a comprehensive data strategy to optimize insights for campus decision-making. Under his leadership, UAB has implemented new AI tools and strategy; built the state’s fastest supercomputer, whose users have helped generate more than $700 million in grants; strengthened security operations to reduce risk; built the fastest network among state higher education institutions; and introduced services and solutions to help streamline processes and improve academic success. During the COVID pandemic, UAB Information Technology was instrumental in projects designed to save lives and help students, faculty and staff return to campus safely not only at UAB but across the state.
“I have been honored to lead a team of agents of innovation, and to work alongside distinguished leaders across campus to build a stronger UAB every day,” Carver said. “My team looks for innovative solutions on a daily basis, and has partnered with colleagues to develop technology wins to make work and academics better for everyone on campus.”
UAB President Ray L. Watts praised Carver’s leadership, pointing out that “it was never an option in Curt’s mind for him or his team to do the minimum.”
“Curt is a servant leader, valued member of the Cabinet and trusted advisor who has transformed UAB IT in every way,” Watts said. “An award-winning, recognized leader in his field, he has modernized our technology, built an incredibly robust cybersecurity infrastructure, and enhanced customer service and responsiveness, among many more accomplishments that benefit us all. His dedication to the UAB community, our mission and the people we serve is evident in every initiative he has touched.”
A national search for UAB’s new chief information officer will be led by a campus-wide search committee.
While overseeing many transformative projects for UAB, Carver has also taught students in the Department of Computer Science. His leadership has been recognized through InspireCIO’s national CIO of the Year program and CIO 100’s Hall of Fame, and UAB IT was named to the CIO 100 in 2021.
Prior to joining UAB, Carver served as CIO for the University System of Georgia and retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel after a long career in leadership both in combat and at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
“I hope my legacy at UAB is not only a culture of innovation but also development of our next generation of technology leaders,” Carver said.