WHO HE IS
Executive Director of Information Security, Fordham IT
TIME AT FORDHAM
18 years
WHAT HE DOES
Overseeing a staff of two, Jason manages IT security as well as IT risk and data integrity. His department protects the University from hackers, viruses, worms, spam, phishing schemes and identity theft. He ensures that Fordham’s information is stable, secure and within federal regulations.
BACKGROUND
Jason earned a degree in accounting with a concentration in federal taxation from Brooklyn College. Prior to joining Fordham, he worked as a locksmith for the New York Police Department and as an alarm and security specialist for a private company. At the University, he has been the director of computer services and the assistant director of information systems and planning at Fordham Law, among other positions. “I did every role in IT on my way up,” he said.
OTHER AFFILIATIONS
“In the last 18 years, I’ve dedicated my services to the New York Electronic Crimes Task Force, which is a consortium between the NYPD and the U.S. Secret Service. I am also a member of the FBI’s InfraGard, in which private institutions and the FBI work together on homeland security.”
CAREER HIGHLIGHT
“Two years ago, we began to implement the Access IT ID, which is the unification of multiple passwords and identities at the University. We took many disparate subsystems and merged them into one, with a single user name and password to ease people’s access to online resources. It was widely adopted, and now we’re using it to make computing even better.”
WHY FORDHAM?
“I commute an hour and a half to two hours a day, and this is the only place I could imagine working. I’ve had opportunities to go to different places, but I wouldn’t leave Fordham. This is a very special place; it’s where I feel good about putting my talents, skills and knowledge to use.”
WORKING WITH AND FOR STUDENTS
“Fordham IT is working to become more customer-service orientated. Through the Information Security Advisory Board, which has student representatives, we find out who the students are and what they need in their academic lives. We then go back and try to figure out how best to serve them, how best to satisfy those needs. Afterward, we ask for feedback.”
ON THE HORIZON
“We will be producing a new ID card that will enable additional services. For instance, the same card will allow students to access dorms or vending services, with a link to the bursarial functions at the University. The new card will be sustainable, cost effective and will give us a significant return on our investment.”
OUTSIDE INTERESTS
In the last six months, Jason’s main focus has been his new baby boy, his first-born. He and his wife are restoring their 100-year old colonial-style home.
