Melanie Douglas Serving as Interim Vice Chancellor for Information Technology

Seasoned IT leader to guide division through June 2027

Melanie Douglas has been appointed interim Vice Chancellor for Information Technology, effective December 1. Douglas will lead Information Technology Services through June 2027. 

Douglas has served UC Santa Cruz since 2015, bringing expertise in strategic technology leadership and organizational transformation. Throughout her tenure, she has partnered across the institution to advance digital innovation and operational excellence in support of the university’s academic, research, and student success missions. Known for building collaborative relationships and leading complex change initiatives, Douglas has championed strategic programs including enterprise-wide service management transformation and cross-functional data governance. Prior to joining UC Santa Cruz, she held progressive leadership roles at Sutter Health and Central California Alliance for Health. She also represents UC Santa Cruz in national higher-education technology communities through her leadership engagement with Internet2.

“I am honored to support the excellent work our teams do every day,” said Douglas. “My commitment  is to provide consistent leadership and stability while driving the strategic work that empowers our organization to advance the mission and vision of ITS in service to UC Santa Cruz students, faculty, and staff.”

Douglas assumes the role following the departure of Aisha Jackson, who is leaving to become Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer at UC Davis. During her tenure at UC Santa Cruz, Jackson transformed Information Technology Services into a mission-focused division by implementing robust governance frameworks and emphasizing service excellence.