Executive Director of Gallaudet Technology Services Selected as one of the Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2014

Gallaudet’s Executive Director Makes Premier 100’s list of IT Leaders for 2014

Gallaudet University announced on December 9, 2013 that Earl Parks, executive director of Gallaudet Technology Services (GTS), has been selected as one of IDG’s Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2014. Premier 100 spotlights leaders from both the technology and business sides of companies for their exceptional technology leadership and innovative approaches to business challenges.

“I am deeply grateful to be recognized for this prestigious honor. My goal is always to provide the university with cutting-edge products and services that enhance the educational experience for students,” said Parks. “Through the efforts of my team, more than 90 percent of courses at Gallaudet have an online component and nearly all students take at least one course using an online learning system. I would like to thank the GTS team for their diligent efforts and support.”

Parks, a Gallaudet alumnus, has been with GTS since 1999. Parks began his career with GTS as a technology specialist and was steadily promoted through the department ranks until he was named executive director in 2011. In this role, Parks manages seven departments and completed a reorganization of GTS which merged three separate technology departments into a single, dynamic, and cohesive unit. This process has yielded several notable improvements in campus services and functions by becoming more agile, reducing duplication, and increasing efficiency.  This year, a Technology Advisory Council was convened to provide guidance on overall technology priorities and direction as part of overall IT governance efforts.

“Innovators such as Earl Parks are essential to the mission at Gallaudet University which is to provide deaf and hard of hearing students with a world-class education,” said Gallaudet President T. Alan Hurwitz. “I commend Earl for his continued efforts to integrate innovative technology within the Gallaudet community.”

Parks will receive the award along with the other honorees during the Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leadership Conference March 2-4, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. The list of honorees will also be published in the February 24 issue of Computerworld and online here.

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.