John O’Keefe to become inaugural Executive Director of Facilities Information Technology at Princeton University

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

John O’Keefe, Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer.

I am writing to share that after more than two decades of impactful service to the College, our Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer John O’Keefe ’96 will be leaving Lafayette to become the inaugural Executive Director of Facilities Information Technology at Princeton University, effective Oct. 14, 2024. In this new role, John will be part of the leadership team of Finance and Administrative Services within the Facilities Organization, Princeton’s largest administrative unit, and lead a team of 17 staff members.

John’s career at Lafayette took him from service in IT as a student to the most senior IT leadership position. He has served Lafayette in his current VP role since July of 2013 and has been a member of the College’s senior leadership team under three presidents. He has been responsible for the College’s technology strategy and IT operations, including learning and research technologies, user support, web development, digital infrastructure, and data integrations and reporting. He joined the College in 2001, holding a variety of positions within IT before being appointed Associate VP and CIO in 2011. He also served as an Adjunct Professor of Film and Media Studies from 2004 through 2015 and Interim VP for Communications for six months in 2016. 

John has made numerous leadership contributions to the College, most notably:

• Serving as the first Chief Information Officer and building the ITS Division as well as the institution’s technology strategy. 
• Helping to develop the Film and Media Studies program. 
• Developing the College’s first smart classroom designs.
• Leading the transition to remote instruction by partnering with faculty to develop a COVID-19 technology plan.
• Serving as the interim lead of the Incident Action Group and enhancing the College’s emergency communications abilities. 
• Leading the use of off-campus College spaces in New York City and downtown Easton. 
• Playing a significant role in several building projects, including Oechsle Hall, Skillman Library, Williams Arts Campus, and the Markle Hall Welcome Center. 

Prior to joining the staff at his alma mater in 2001, John worked in the technology industry as a consultant, support specialist, and network engineer. 

In addition to his professional role at Lafayette, John has served the community as a volunteer in several capacities, including serving as chair of the board of KINBER, a Pennsylvania based non-profit corporation that provides broadband connectivity, fosters collaboration, and promotes the innovative use of digital technologies throughout the state. He has also served as chair of the board of the Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges (CLAC), an organization that represents IT leaders from the top liberal arts colleges in the country; and the Third Street Alliance, a community-based non-profit that provides housing services for women and children as well as an early learning center in downtown Easton.

Please join me in wishing our exceptional colleague and friend all the best as he begins his next chapter of service in higher education at Princeton.

President Nicole Hurd