Dan Harder, an accomplished leader of information technology operations at higher education institutions, is the new chief information officer at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Most recently, Harder served as the senior director of information technology and chief information officer for the Emory University School of Medicine. In this role, he led the many technology teams in the Emory School of Medicine portfolio. He also created partnerships with local hospitals to enhance the education, clinical, and research missions of the institution.
Prior to Emory University, Harder was the director of Campus Technology Support and assistant chief information officer at Elon University in North Carolina.
Harder spent almost 10 years at Duke University, where he had several technology roles, finishing as director of information technology for the Division of Student Affairs. During this time, he implemented point-of-sales systems, was part of the EPIC implementation (electronic medical records system) for Duke Health, and led major projects related to student technology.
Harder said he chose UTHSC because of the statewide opportunity it affords. “The more that I spoke with UTHSC team members and continued to learn the culture and mission of the institution across Tennessee, the easier the decision became,” he said. “The opportunity to come to UTHSC, build partnerships across campus, and further the missions of education, research, clinical care, and public service is an extraordinary honor.”
He will begin work at UTHSC this summer and expects his first order of business will be a listening tour of all academic and administrative units at the university in order to understand the information technology needs. “I am really looking forward to listening to the UTHSC community and crafting the technology roadmap together,” he said.
Harder earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Appalachian State University, intending to be a band director. He earned a master’s degree in project management from Western Carolina University.
He said he became interested in computers in college, while working with a student technology group. After graduation, he worked for Apple for a few years and found he really liked technology. “Really, my hobby became my career,” Harder said.