The University of Alabama at Birmingham has named UAB Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Officer Robert Howard Jr. as its next vice president of Information Technology and CIO following a national search.
In his new role, Howard will serve as a senior UAB leader on the President’s Cabinet and be responsible for all university Information Technology staff and initiatives.
“It is an honor to have been selected through this competitive process, and I am grateful for the confidence President Watts and others in the UAB community have expressed in me,” Howard said. “UAB IT has built strong momentum over the last decade, and my focus is on delivering value to UAB as we continue that work. I view the CIO role as one of service that supports everyone across UAB, and we will retain our people-focused approach in the service of UAB’s mission pillars.”
Howard joined UAB in 2015. In his most recent role, he led a team of more than 100 across multiple areas within IT, including technology, finance, human resources, communications, customer service, and project management and governance.
“Robert has been a key player in UAB IT’s transformational growth and many successes for more than a decade, and he is well prepared to lead our talented IT team and build on the momentum he helped create,” said UAB President Ray Watts. “I want to thank the search committee — which vetted an extremely deep and talented candidate pool — as well as the many stakeholders from across the enterprise who engaged with our finalists. Feedback about Robert from the UAB community was overwhelmingly positive.”
Before coming to UAB, Howard served as chief information officer at Armstrong State University, as well as senior director and then assistant vice president at Miami University, and he advanced through many IT roles early in his career at the University of Georgia.
UAB Senior Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives Tom Brannan chaired the CIO search committee.
“Robert has a proven track record of technical and operational excellence, as well as deep knowledge and a thoughtful approach to addressing opportunities and threats in the IT space,” Brannan said. “That, and recognition of his commitment to being a collaborative partner, came through overwhelmingly positive in the feedback the UAB community shared throughout the search.”
Howard earned his Bachelor of Science degree in cell biology and microbiology from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in executive leadership and organizational change from Northern Kentucky University, and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University. He is pursuing an executive Doctor of Science degree in health care leadership, expecting to defend his dissertation in early 2026. He also holds multiple professional certifications.
Howard will assume the VP, CIO role on Jan. 1, 2026.