Duane Arruti

Chief Information Officer, Office of the CIO, for Information Technologies (IT) at UNM

Duane Arruti has 25+ years of broad administrative experience at the University of New Mexico (UNM), New Mexico’s flagship, R1 institution, in the areas of finance, human resources, and information technology, and currently serves in the capacity of Chief Information Officer (CIO). Duane obtained his BBA from James Madison University, MBA from the University of New Mexico, and is an active licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Duane has worked at both the UNM Main Campus and the UNM Health Sciences Center, and has served as Associate Controller for Financial Services, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, and Director of UNM IT Applications. Duane assumed the role of CIO in 2016.

In his capacity as CIO, Duane provides institution-wide leadership, strategy, and direction in the management and operation of shared information and technology services to support the teaching, research and service missions of UNM, including oversight of UNM’s Albuquerque Gigapop, an aggregation point of networks providing high-bandwidth access and peering services through the Western Regional Network and Internet 2. He serves as guide and counsel to the University President's executive cabinet in the examination and definition of strategies and objectives for existing and proposed information systems and the design of improved systems and services. Additionally, Duane serves as a professional faculty member instructing undergraduate business students in information technology foundations at UNM’s Anderson School of Management. Duane has taken a leadership role in a number of cross-campus technology initiatives, to include UNM’s Banner Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) implementation and UNM’s Effectiveness and Efficiencies (E&E) effort to transform, streamline, and align IT services with the direction of the institution.

As past president and current member of New Mexico Consortium for Higher Education Computing / Communication Services (CHECS), an affinity association of New Mexico Higher-Education IT professionals, Duane has spearheaded major cross-sector collaborative initiatives in cybersecurity, networking, software licensing and implementation, and online/remote education. Duane also serves on the Microsoft Education Customer Advisory Board and the Adobe Higher Education CIO Customer Advisory Board.

Brian Pietrewicz

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of the CIO, for Information Technologies (IT) at UNM

Brian obtained his BA from Western Maryland College in 1996 and his MBA from Mount St Mary's University in 2008. He has 20 years of IT experience spanning public, private, and academic sectors and has served in roles ranging from System Engineer of a private liberal arts college to Chief Information Officer of a state institution with a budget of over $5.5B.

Brian has served as the Director of Computing Platforms for the University of New Mexico and was named Deputy Chief Information Officer in 2016.

Alesia Torres

Director, Applications, for Information Technologies (IT) at UNM

Alesia Torres is a technology professional with extensive experience managing multiple areas of IT (Networks, Severs, Applications and Help Desk); coaching, mentoring and building medium to large IT teams. She has 20+ years of experience delivering software solutions, stable/scalable technology environments, and strategic objectives.

With roots as a software developer, she has had an opportunity to work extensively with demanding requests to deliver software solutions, systems and strategies throughout local and global industries. She has acted as a project manager, analyst, developer and integrator for large scale projects and initiatives. Always looking for efficient and effective processes, she is a green belt in Lean Six Sigma and has acted as a subject matter expert on multiple lean continuous improvement projects. In addition, she has collaborated with Executive Management to contribute to the company’s vision and strategic objectives, the creation of the company’s 5-year technology roadmap, and the implementation of IT governance.

At UNM, Alesia currently leads an amazing team of Software Development and Implementation Professionals delivering Enterprise Systems and Solutions to all areas of Campus. As a UNM alumni and Lobo for life, she is committed to and passionate about the mission of UNM and enjoys her current role leading her team enabling the campus and students through technology.

Alicia Armendariz

Senior HR Consultant

Alicia has 20+ years of Human Resources experience in both the private and public sectors. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and holds SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certifications. She earned a BA in International Relations and Spanish from the University of California, Davis, in 2002.

She joined UNM’s Project ECHO in 2021 before transitioning to the Division of Human Resources in 2022. Since April 2024, she has served as the Senior HR Consultant for Information Technologies (IT), providing expertise in policy and procedure compliance, recruitment, staffing, performance management, and training. Alicia also engages in strategic initiatives with the IT Leadership Team to support organizational success.

Elaine Rising

Associate Director, IT Community Outreach and Engagement, for Information Technologies (IT) at UNM

Elaine Rising holds a BBA and an MBA, both from Southern Methodist University. She began her career at American Airline’s corporate headquarters as a senior planning analyst, and has held positions as a project manager, consultant, or owner operator for companies ranging from large, publicly traded companies to small local companies.

Elaine joined UNM’s College of Pharmacy in 2012 and then UNM IT in 2014, where she has served as a program specialist in charge of external funding (grants and sponsorships), business analyst in the Project Management office, and now associate director of community programs and strategic initiatives.

Elaine holds both the Information Technology Information Library Foundations and the Project Management Professional certification.

Elisha Allen

Director, Online Strategies and Academic Technologies

Elisha Allen serves as the UNM Director of Online Strategies and Academic Technologies. With a dual director appointment, Elisha leads departments in Academic Affairs and UNM IT. Within UNM IT, Elisha is responsible for support, maintenance, and strategic planning for UNM’s academic technology tools— online and in classrooms. As a strategic advisor to the provost for academic technologies and online strategies, Elisha provides leadership for UNM’s Online Programs. With over 20 years’ experience in higher education, he holds an M.B.A. and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design with a minor in Spanish from UNM. He is also an alumnus of the Online Learning Consortium/Penn State Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning. Elisha Allen provides expertise in education and training including classroom technologies, effective pedagogies, online teaching and learning tools, curriculum development, and program offerings. An advocate for lifelong learning, he is involved with statewide P-20 learning initiatives with a focus on digital inclusion, equity, and literacy.

Jeff Gassaway

University Information Security and Privacy Officer, Information Security & Privacy Office

Jeff Gassaway graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English from the University of New Mexico, where he also earned his MBA. Jeff joined the University of New Mexico as a staff member in 1999 and has collaborated with stakeholders at Main, North, and Branch Campuses to advance principles of information security and privacy.

Jeff has taken on leadership roles in information security and privacy initiatives at the local, state, and national levels, to bring value and opportunity to the faculty, staff, and students of the University, as well as to the diverse communities UNM serves. Most notable among these initiatives are UNM's effective and efficient Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance program; GLBA and main campus HIPAA risk assessment programs; New Mexico higher education information security working group; New Mexico's premier computer forensics facility, the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensics Lab (NMRCFL); and numerous REN-ISAC and Educause leadership roles.

In addition to national presentations on information security and privacy, and guest lecturing on information security and privacy topics, Jeff holds numerous certifications in information security and privacy, including Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Kirsten Moeller

Director, Information Technologies Financial Operations, IT Business Operations

Kirsten Moeller joined UNM Information Technologies in 2005 and currently serves as the Director, Business Operations. In her role, Kirsten oversees a wide range of functions, including finance, human resources, administrative services, IT project management for capital projects, IT facilities, and management of enterprise licensing contracts. In addition to leading the IT Business Operations team, Kirsten partners with leaders across the university, and other statewide higher education institutions and agencies to develop financial analyses and funding requests, and execute business models for critical initiatives.

Kirsten has been successful in contributing towards IT efficiency and effectiveness efforts for campus IT services, including improved coordination of IT procurements, development of a student technology fee, negotiation of several enterprise license contracts to optimize costs, and development of a proposed IT funding model.

Kirsten has a diverse background in university accounting, budgeting, financial management and analysis. She is ITIL certified, a member of the IT Financial Management Association, and has also presented at national conferences on behalf of UNM IT, including Educause, the Associate for College & University Technology Advancement (ACUTA) and local conferences, including NM Technology in Education (NMTIE), and Tech Days at UNM.

Kirsten is a founding member and current Treasurer of the UNM Women in Technology affinity group and currently serves as fiscal agent for the New Mexico Research Partners Network Collaboration and oversees the NM Licensing Consortium for Microsoft and Adobe products. She has also served as a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor 2.0 program for the past few years.

Kirsten has an MBA and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the Anderson School of Management at UNM.

Tim Johnson

Director, Campus Outreach and Engagement

Tim graduated from the University of CA, Irvine in 1989 with a degree in Social Ecology, the study of relationships between people and their environment, often the interdependence of people, collectives and institutions. Prior to relocating to New Mexico, Tim worked for Avnet Electronics as a product manager and then with Global Health Systems, supporting Public Health mainframe systems for several counties in California.

In 1996, Tim joined the University of New Mexico as a User Support Analyst with the Center for Development and Disability and then later with the Division of Continuing Education as a LAN Administrator and later as the Manger of Computing Support. While at Continuing Education, Tim was instrumental is in developing the early Childhood Contracts, developing the New Mexico Kids website and data collection for the State’s Children, Youth and Family Departments childcare programs. Tim also oversaw the development of the first data collection systems for the State of New Mexico’s Pre-K programs.

In 2007, Tim moved to the main campus as the Operations Manager for Media Technology Services where he developed classroom technology standards and oversaw the modernization of the instructional technology in the Centrally Scheduled classrooms, including the renovation of Mitchell Hall. In 2013, Tim joined UNM IT as a Manager of Core IT Services and then later as an Associate Director for IT Academic Technologies. He has joined Campus Outreach and Engagement as the co-Associate Director.