Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology and University CIO
In December 2001, Brian Cohen joined the City University of New York as its Chief Information Officer. Brian has invaluable experience in technology and running large scale and complex business and technology projects. In his role, Mr. Cohen is responsible for developing the University's technology strategy and to provide leadership and direction in the operation of our enterprise technology systems, including core business applications, voice and data networks, IT Security, data center operations, and the implementation of the University's enterprise resource planning project – CUNYfirst.
From 2000 to 2001 Mr. Cohen served as the Deputy Commissioner in the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) where he was responsible for identifying, funding and implementing information technology solutions that supported the City's business operations and had oversight responsibilities for the City's E-Government Office, internal consulting technology staff, and technology recruitment staff.
Before assuming his position as Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Cohen served as the first Executive Director of the City's newly created E-Government Office and was responsible for developing ways in which technology would become an essential part in providing access and services to residents, visitors and employees of the City of New York. Under his leadership, the City's E-Government strategic plan had been highly recognized for expeditiously moving City services to the Internet and bringing the City closer to becoming a truly virtual city. The city's awarding winning web site www.nyc.gov, the cornerstone in delivering these online services was transformed into a fully interactive web portal.
From August 1997 to January 2000, Brian served as the Executive Director of the New York City's Mayor's Office of Operations - Year 2000 Project Office and reported to the Deputy Mayor for Operations. In this position, Mr. Cohen was responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the City's Year 2000 planning methodology, facilitation and oversight of all Year 2000 related projects, identifying and relaying critical Year 2000 related issues to senior management, oversight of funding in excess of $300 Million, as well as coordination and the deployment of consultant services. Under Mr. Cohen's direction each City agency successfully complete its Year 2000 inventory, conducted impact analyses' on critical and high priority systems, implemented and managed Year 2000 strategic planning, and developed and maintained a system for project review and reporting.
Mr. Cohen's knowledge of city government also stems from various positions within the Mayor's Office of Operations beginning in 1993 where he served as a Project Planner responsible for mayoral oversight of various city agencies as well as serving as the Assistant Director for Citywide Information Systems in the New York City Mayor's Office where he was responsible for oversight of agency technology initiatives, served as an integral part of the development of the City's internet presence and led many of the technology needs of the Mayor's Office of Operations.
Mr. Cohen graduated Cum Laude from St. John's University with a BS in Computer Science and completed his educational curriculum in 1991 when he received a Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center where he also served as an editor on the Touro Law Review.
