PRESS RELEASES

Oberlin College Selects Benjamin Hockenhull as Chief Information Technology Officer

BOSTON, MA, January 5, 2017 — Oberlin College has named Benjamin R. Hockenhull, an information technology executive with 20 years of higher education experience, its new Chief Information Technology Officer.

“Ben rose to the top of a very strong pool because of his experience in leading change, his emphasis on professional development for staff, and his commitment to communication and collaboration across campus,” said Mike Frandsen, Oberlin’s Vice President for Finance and Administration. “He will bring a great combination of technical, management, and leadership skills to Oberlin.”

Reporting to Frandsen, Hockenhull will lead and manage Oberlin’s Irvin E. Houck Center for Information Technology starting March 1. He will oversee an operating budget of about $5.5 million and a staff of 40.

“I see opportunities to provide Oberlin with innovative and relevant technologies that make a difference in the classroom and in the world outside Oberlin,” Hockenhull said. “Technology should empower, it should engender creativity, and it should facilitate the work of the academy.”

Hockenhull has been serving as Associate Vice President for Digital Innovation at Saint Edward’s University, a private Catholic liberal arts university in Austin, Texas. He oversaw a $4.2 million IT budget, vendor/contract management, and IT security. He has also focused on the ongoing development of the university’s comprehensive approach to integrating technology, teaching, strategy, and support.

Previously, Hockenhull held a series of IT-related positions with increasing responsibility at Webster University in St. Louis. Before leaving for St. Edward’s, he served as Webster’s Deputy CIO and Enterprise Architect.

Hockenhull received a master’s in computer resource and information management at Webster and a bachelor’s in English from the University of Missouri.

Andy Evans and Tom Phillips of Neumann Executive Search Partners assisted Oberlin College with this search.

About Neumann Executive Search Partners

Neumann Executive Search Partners brings decades of experience partnering with renowned colleges and universities across the United States to identify and recruit exceptional individuals. Spanning academic and administrative areas, our expertise and process enable our clients to identify and attract talented leaders who will help define and advance the mission and vision of the institutions they join.

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