Industry executive John Brocklebank appointed dean of College of Computing & Technology
Lipscomb students learn from industry experts and leaders in their fields.
Kim Chaudoin |
2022 Update: The College of Computing and Technology is now the School of Computing and the School of Data Analytics and Technology.
Industry executive John Brocklebank has been appointed dean of Lipscomb University’s College of Computing & Technology, university Provost W. Craig Bledsoe announced today.
Brocklebank was executive vice president and chief hosting officer for global hosting and U.S. professional services for SAS Institute Inc., a multinational firm located in Cary, North Carolina. He succeeds Fortune Mhlanga who will be returning to the classroom as a professor in the College of Computing & Technology. He will officially begin his work with Lipscomb in February 2020.
“John has a strong interest in the advancement of the university through both its academic and Christian principles to prepare students to be successful in their careers, personal lives and the community,” said Bledsoe. “He understands the current industry and higher education landscape, and will bring a great energy, perspective and collaboration to his role as dean of the College of Computing & Technology. I look forward to his leadership and the way he will continue to build the college in a time where the business of technology continues to advance and influence the everyday world.”
John Brocklebank
Brocklebank has more than 40 years of programming and statistical experience. He holds 16 patents and directed the SAS Advanced Analytics Lab for State and Local Government, which devotes the resources of nearly 300 mostly doctoral-level SAS experts to devising technology solutions to critical state and local government issues. As an instructor at SAS for 16 years, Brocklebank also developed courses and trained programmers and analysts using robust statistical and computing methodologies for industry. In 2000 he started a cloud hosting and consulting business at SAS, which drove services, hardware and consultative revenues annually and is a practice that includes 1,200 global resources of which 250 are classified as citizen/data scientists.
“I have always had a keen interest in educating students at all levels to prepare them for careers in computing and analytics,” said Brocklebank. “My interest in this field began as a student at Lipscomb. This is a place that means a great deal to me and it’s an honor to return here to do something that I love. I am excited to build on the work that is already in place here and to provide a fresh perspective on how the university can develop well-rounded students who are grounded with a solid understanding of academics combined with a faith-based walk as they enter the workforce.”
Brocklebank also served on the board of directors for the North Carolina State College of Sciences Foundation, where he advised the dean and college leaders on issues affecting the future direction of the college. He is a member of the Analytics Corporate Advisory Board, Analytics and Data Mining Programs, Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. He has been an instructor at North Carolina State University and the University of New York’s Department of Biostatistics. He has published frequently in a variety of industry journals. In addition, Brocklebank is a member of the Lipscomb University College of Computing and Technology Advancement Council.
My interest in this field began as a student at Lipscomb. This is a place that means a great deal to me and it’s an honor to return here to do something that I love. — John Brocklebank
He holds a Ph.D. in statistics and mathematics from North Carolina State University, where he served as a Physical and Mathematical Sciences Foundation board member and an adjunct professor of statistics, a Master of Science in biostatistics from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Lipscomb University.
Brocklebank and his wife, Vicki (Hoover), met after graduating from Lipscomb. They have one son, Jay, who is an officer in Lipscomb’s Office of Security and Safety, and three grandchildren.
Learn more about Lipscomb University’s College of Computing & Technology at www.lipscomb.edu/technology.