Biography

Northern Arizona University Vice President and Chief Information Officer Lanita Collette has extensive experience as a technology leader in higher education. She followed a 15-year technology career here at NAU, culminating in Deputy CIO, with eight years at the University of Arizona where she served as CISO, Deputy CIO, and Acting CIO. Collette is excited to return home to Northern Arizona and NAU.

Throughout her career, Lanita has made significant contributions to national higher education cybersecurity and technology through her leadership and active involvement with Educause. She has led conferences, facilitated workshops, served as faculty for cybersecurity institutes, and delivered presentations on critical technology and security issues facing colleges and universities. She is particularly excited to use her leadership to support the NAU mission of economic mobility and social impact.

Before transitioning to technology leadership, Collette worked as an archaeologist in many locations, from the coast of Maine to Alaska, as well as here in Arizona on the Colorado Plateau. She worked for the Navajo Nation for several years as a laboratory director and mentor for Native American students in a joint training program between NAU and the Navajo Nation. This unique background brings a distinctive perspective to her leadership in information technology and her commitment to serving the Northern Arizona community. She has degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College (BA) and Arizona State University (MA).

Lanita and her teams are focused on excellence in service and leadership in the adoption of efficient and effective technology advancements, including judicious application of AI and other emerging technologies.