Stephen Hess, chief information officer at the University of Utah and CIO for the Utah System of Higher Education, has announced plans to retire at the beginning of 2026. A national search to identify his successor is now underway.

Hess has worked for the university for over 50 years. He has led the university’s education and information technology departments and systems since 1973, with the exception of three years between 2011-14, where he served as a mission president for his church. His career at the U began in 1971 as a graduate instructor, then full time as supervisor of campus media services, the director of the Educational Media Center, Instructional Television, later to be combined into Instructional Media Services, director of the University Press, the executive director of Media Services and assistant vice president of University and Student Relations which included all these service plus KUED TV, KUEN TV and KUER FM. There, he played a pivotal role in expanding access to educational resources, tools and technology across the state through broadcast television, radio and the internet to the citizens of the state of Utah.

As an adjunct faculty member, Hess taught courses and published for many years in the areas of Library Science, Educational Administration, Educational and Information Technology and Instructional Development.

Many of Hess and his wife Vicki’s children attended the U and are devoted Utah fans. They love the university and what it has done for their family with a loyalty that goes all the way back to Billy “the Hill” McGill.

In his current role as Vice President and CIO, Hess oversees University Information Technology (UIT), which includes the Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Deputy CIO over Administrative Computing, Executive Director of UETN, and the Director of Digital Learning Technologies.

In his role as Utah State Higher Education (USHE) CIO Hess reports to the Associate Commissioner where he works with the CIO’s from the seven college and university CIO’s and the eight technical college IT administrators in the development of system wide IT plans, policy, joint software, ERP, and hardware purchases, network connectivity, AI, Federal IT Grants, legislative changes in law relating to IT and funding requests.

Among his many accomplishments, Hess centralized many key campus IT services for the University of Utah and was instrumental in the creation of and the founding director of the Utah Education Network (UEN). This organization connects all the school districts, state public libraries, universities and colleges, and some government agencies to the Internet. This provides robust network connectivity with online resources for students, patients, and educators across the state of Utah. It has become one of the finest educational state networks in the country.

“Steve has been a leader in the evolution of education in the digital age, making valuable education resources and services available online free of place and time,” said Jeff Labrum, the university’s chief operating officer. “The university and the state of Utah owe him a debt of gratitude for his work.”

Labrum will lead the search for Hess’ successor, in partnership with executive search firm Spencer Stuart.