In a community-wide email sent Tuesday morning, President Safa Zaki announced that Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Michael Cato will depart Bowdoin in March 2027 to become an associate partner at Opus Partners, a leadership advisory and executive search firm.

During his time at Bowdoin, Cato shaped the College’s approach to information technology (IT), digital access and cybersecurity. He contributed to the development of Bowdoin’s novel Digital Excellence Commitment, an initiative designed to ensure digital equity by providing all incoming students with new technology. Cato also enhanced the College’s cybersecurity program, helped implement the transition from Polaris to Workday and supported the College’s technological response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More recently, Cato has worked on policies addressing data governance and the use of artificial intelligence at Bowdoin, helping manage the College’s approach to emerging technologies and responsible data management.

In her announcement, Zaki praised Cato’s leadership and collaboration throughout his tenure.

“While I am happy for [Cato], I will miss his partnership. I am deeply grateful to [him] for his strong leadership in information technology at Bowdoin for the past eight years. He has led Bowdoin’s talented team of IT professionals with innovation and integrity and has been a valued and trusted partner to many across the College,” Zaki wrote.

Prior to Bowdoin, Cato held information technology leadership positions at Vassar College and within the University of North Carolina system.

Over more than 25 years in higher education, Cato’s work has earned national recognition. In 2022, he received the Technology Executive of the Year award in education from the IT Senior Management Forum, while the previous year, he received the EDUCAUSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Award.

Cato also served as the founding director of the Next Leaders Fellowship, which supports the development of information technology professionals in higher education, particularly leaders who are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).

The College will soon commence a national search for Cato’s successor.