Q&A: Meet Rohini Ananthakrishnan, Wayne State’s Vice President for Digital Strategy and Operational Excellence

When Rohini Ananthakrishnan arrived at Wayne State University six months ago, she brought with her more than two decades of higher education leadership - and a clear sense of purpose. As vice president for digital strategy and operational excellence (DSOE), she leads a new division designed to help the university work smarter, use data more effectively and better support students, faculty and staff.

We sat down with Ananthakrishnan to talk about what drew her to Wayne State, how the new division supports the university's mission and what's ahead in 2026.

Q: You spent 23 years at the University of Denver. What inspired you to take on this new role at Wayne State?

A: When I came to campus for my interviews, it was really the people and the mission that stood out. I wasn't actively looking to leave the University of Denver - I truly thought I would retire there - but what I heard at Wayne State was an unlimited appetite for change. People said things like, "We want to get better. We want to improve how we do our work." That caught my attention.

I was also looking for more purpose at this stage in my career. Wayne State's mission around access, first-generation students and public impact deeply resonated with me. Once I saw the passion behind that mission, I knew I wanted to be part of it.

Q: Now that you've been here for several months, what's your impression of Wayne State?

A: People care deeply about this institution, our students and each other - and you can see that in how long many employees have been here. I've had countless one-on-one conversations across campus, and I've found people to be incredibly welcoming and engaged.

Because DSOE is a new division, part of my early work has been helping people understand what we do and why we exist. Many already see the value and are eager for meaningful change, and others are still learning - and that's okay. This is a journey.

Q: Why bring Computing and Information Technology (C&IT), Institutional Research and Data Analytics (IRDA), and the new Operational Excellence department together under one division?

A: For a long time, technology and data were treated like utilities - something you needed, but not something you thought about strategically. Today, they are inseparable from how we work, make decisions and serve students.

By bringing technology, data and processes together, we shift from being service providers to strategic partners. This allows us to think holistically about how systems, data and workflows support the university's goals - and how we can continuously improve them.

Q: You've said that data is only valuable if it's accessible. What does that mean in practice?

A: Data is only valuable if it's accurate, well-defined and usable - and if people know how to interpret it. I've started using the word information instead of data, because what people really need is information they can act on.

That requires a lot of upfront work: cleaning and structuring data, agreeing on definitions, providing training, and creating standardized reports so everyone isn't reinventing the wheel. Accessibility doesn't mean pulling raw data - it means giving people the right information in the right way.

Q: How is DSOE helping Wayne State navigate AI and emerging technologies?

A: AI is already here - students, faculty and staff are using it. Our role isn't to introduce AI, but to help the university use it ethically, responsibly and effectively.

We see ourselves as enablers and facilitators. That means developing guidelines, supporting ethical use, leveraging AI within systems we already have and helping units understand how emerging tools can support their work without compromising integrity or trust.

Q: Tell us about the emerging Operational Excellence department.

A: One of the most exciting developments has been establishing a new Operational Excellence department focused on three key areas: business analysis, project management and change management.

We're building teams that understand both the business side of the university and the technical side - people who can act as bridges between campus units and technologists. We've also prioritized internal talent, promoting staff into leadership roles and expanding capabilities.

Q: What are the division's top priorities for 2026?

A: A few major initiatives stand out:

• Launching an enterprise process transformation effort to streamline and improve key university processes over time

• Conducting a data needs and maturity assessment to improve data literacy and modernize our data platforms

• Expanding training and learning opportunities around our most-used technologies

• Creating a liaison program so every unit has a dedicated DSOE leader as a thought partner

At the core of all of this is collaboration. We can't do this work in silos - and we don't want to.

Q: What else can you tell the Wayne State community about yourself?

A: I'm an introvert who loves people. I genuinely enjoy meeting colleagues, grabbing coffee and learning about the work happening across campus. I've been married for 27 years, have two kids in college and early careers, and a golden doodle named Duke. I also love to bake - especially desserts with a little bit of flair.

Most importantly, I'm here to listen, partner and help Wayne State move forward together.

For more information about the Division of Digital Strategy and Operational Excellence, visit its new website.