Florida State University Associate Vice President & Chief Information Officer Jonathan Fozard has received a prestigious statewide honor recognizing his leadership in technological innovation and his commitment to expanding internship opportunities that equip students for the evolving workforce.
Fozard was named a winner of the 2026 Florida Large Enterprise ORBIE Award, a recognition that honors chief information officers and technology executives who demonstrate excellence in leveraging technology to solve complex challenges, accelerate innovation and strengthen organizational performance.
“Every day, I find meaning and value in what I do,” Fozard said. “I don’t wake up and feel bored; I wake up and think about how we are impacting lives and the amazing people I get to work alongside each day. We are literally impacting the lives of the next generation of leaders.”
Fozard noted that the university’s investments in technology and innovation, from internships to new AI tools, create opportunities that will outlast his tenure.
“This next generation is going to come up with the next new idea, the next innovation and the next technology breakthrough. And it started here,” he said.
Fozard was selected for the honor through an independent review process led by previous ORBIE winners. Judges focused on his leadership effectiveness and the tangible value his technology initiatives brought to the university, community and state.
FSU Provost Jim Clark said the award highlights Fozard’s role in pushing the university toward a more modern future.
“Jonathan’s abiding commitment to driving ITS forward and championing innovation and collaboration has transformed how we support teaching, research, operations and student success at FSU,” Clark said. “This honor recognizes Jonathan’s visionary leadership and tireless dedication.”
Under Fozard’s leadership, FSU has emerged as a national leader in higher education technology, earning global recognition for advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, modern cloud infrastructure, strengthened risk management practices, a culture-first technology leadership model and the rapid expansion of its student technology internship program.
Fozard has led a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that modernizes enterprise infrastructure, enhances student success and accelerates research and academic innovation under his RISE 2030 strategic framework: Research & Instruction, Innovation & Modernization, Security & Compliance, and Engagement & Student Success.
Through a multi-year IT alignment initiative, Fozard has unified more than 1,000 IT professionals across FSU, strengthening collaboration, governance and campuswide service delivery. He has elevated FSU’s national profile within the technology sector by developing strategic alliances with Fortune 500 and global companies, creating transformative opportunities for the university and the broader state economy. These partnerships, including collaborations with Amazon, Microsoft, Snowflake and Google, have expanded FSU’s capacity in teaching, research and digital innovation.
For more information, visit its.fsu.edu.