University of California, Davis Chancellor Gary S. May has appointed Aisha Jackson as the university’s first chief information and digital strategy executive (CIDSE). Jackson will begin her two-year term on December 1, 2025, reporting directly to the chancellor and joining the Chancellor’s Leadership Council.
Jackson is currently vice chancellor for information technology at UC Santa Cruz, a role she has held since 2022. Prior to that, she worked for 12 years at the University of Colorado Boulder in several leadership positions related to academic technology and student success.
“I’m pleased that Aisha will join us to strengthen UC Davis’s ability to meet growing technological demands,” said Chancellor May. “With ongoing cybersecurity threats, rapid advances in AI, and the need for continuous innovation, Aisha brings a critical strategic perspective. Her deep experience in higher education — working with faculty, students and administrators — positions her well to help us envision and implement how technology can enhance our education and research missions.”
During her time at UC Santa Cruz, Jackson implemented new governance structures and developed a collaborative service culture that integrated IT operations across academic and administrative divisions. She founded and co-chaired the UC Santa Cruz AI Council to guide responsible use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning. Jackson also led systemwide initiatives focused on information security and digital accessibility. At Boulder, she provided strategic direction for technology services aimed at supporting faculty and student achievement.
The creation of the CIDSE position follows an external review of UC Davis’s information technology systems across both its Davis and Sacramento campuses. The review concluded that while UC Davis possesses robust IT infrastructure, it remains highly decentralized; therefore, more enterprise-wide coordination is needed.
In her new role, Jackson will oversee efforts to better integrate UC Davis’s various IT initiatives. She will develop a unified governance framework designed to improve transparency, accountability, and alignment with institutional goals. Additionally, Jackson will act as the primary liaison between UC Davis and the broader University of California system on all matters related to information technology.
“I am honored to join UC Davis at such a pivotal moment in higher education,” Jackson said. “This role represents an incredible opportunity to help shape how technology advances the university’s learning, teaching, research and service missions. I look forward to collaborating to build integrated, forward-thinking digital strategies that serve our entire community.”
Jackson will collaborate with leaders from Information and Educational Technology (IET), Finance, Operations and Administration (FOA), Enrollment Management, UC Davis Health, as well as all schools and colleges within the institution. Her responsibilities include aligning IT priorities campus-wide.
Jackson holds a doctorate in education from the University of Colorado Denver. She also earned a Master of Education from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in education from Flagler College in St. Augustine.
