Awards

School of Library and Information Science Distinguished Alumni Award - 2007

About Merri Beth Lavagnino

Merri Beth Lavagnino is the Chief Risk Officer in the Office of Public Safety & Institutional Assurance for Indiana University. Lavagnino has 30 years of experience working in higher education in medium and large universities, both public and private, and a regional consortium. She has worked in a variety of roles including support staff, faculty, and administrator; and in many disciplines including libraries, information technology, learning technology, security, policy, privacy, compliance, and risk.

Previously, Lavagnino was the chief information technology policy officer within the Indiana University Office of the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Office. She developed and maintained policies regarding the appropriate use of information technology. Her responsibilities included overseeing and coordinating investigations and responses to reports of abuse or inappropriate use of electronic information or information technology. In her position, she worked closely with university administration, judicial officers, counsel, and other IU agencies, as well as internal and external law enforcement and prosecutors.

Early in her career, Lavagnino received the Cretsos Leadership Award from the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST). The award goes to a junior ASIST member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in the society.

The number and variety of new technical developments where Lavagnino has played a key role in educating colleagues is impressive. She has given presentations at meetings arranged by ALA, Apple Computer, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, and ASIST, among others. She has presented at EDUCAUSE, ASIST, ResNet (student-owned computers on campus), ACUTA (Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education), and the Indiana Online Users Group. Her topics have ranged from managing full-text electronic access to periodicals to managing IT security in campus housing.