Jean Guezmir, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at St. Catherine University, has been recognized in the December/January 2020 issue of Twin Cities Business as one of their 18 Notable Women in Technology.
Guezmir, who joined St. Catherine University three years ago, brings an innovative, collaborative approach to the continual transformation of St. Kate’s Information Technology strategy. That approach was crucial in 2020 as the University leaned heavily on technology infrastructure when COVID-19 necessitated the transition of all course offerings to online environments.
Jean led her team to accelerate the University’s technology update timeline in order to deliver the needed learning environment. “Through teamwork and transparent communication, Jean’s team helped us adjust to the quick pivot to online learning in the spring and provided our faculty with the tools, support, and encouragement to prepare for online and face-to-face courses for the fall semester,” said Lynda Szymanski, PhD, Associate Provost, St. Catherine University. “Without her steady leadership during the pandemic, we would not have been able to be up and running classes for our students.”
The work was accomplished without interrupting the strategy Jean continues to lead, reinventing physical spaces to accommodate leading-edge technology that helps drive student outcomes at St. Kate’s. “Her dogged determination, bottomless energy, and endless patience helped ensure the campus community was ready to deliver courses and labs for the 2020-21 academic year for programs in which online instruction is less than ideal,” recalls Angela Riley ’84 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, St. Catherine University. Among the specific changes:
- The Rauenhorst Ballroom in Coeur de Catherine was repurposed into three, state-of-the art classrooms by securing enhanced technology, temporary walls, and furniture that allows for discussion while abiding by social distancing mandates.
- Jean led the work to develop apps used by the St. Kate’s community for daily symptom screening, meal orders, and room reservations for student study spaces.
“We are incredibly proud of Jean and this richly deserved recognition,” said ReBecca Koenig Roloff ‘76, President, St. Catherine University.
Congratulations to Jean.