SUNY Adirondack's CIO earns SUNY Council honors

QUEENSBURY, New York (June 23, 2026) — SUNY Adirondack is proud to announce that Mary Hand, the college’s chief information officer (CIO), was awarded the CCIO Individual Collaboration Award by the SUNY Council of CIOs at the SUNY Technology Conference in Lake Placid last week.

The Individual Collaboration Award recognizes an individual whose efforts over the past year exemplify SUNY’s desire to build, support and enrich the SUNY Information Technology community by promoting collaboration in their work.

“As CIO at SUNY Adirondack and a former chair of the SUNY Council of CIOs, Mary has demonstrated sustained commitment to advancing collaboration across the system through active leadership on numerous executive boards and committees,” said Steve Maniscalco, CIO at SUNY Oneonta and chair of the SUNY Council of CIOs, announcing the award. “Known for her professionalism, strategic vision and hands-on engagement, Mary has made a lasting impact on SUNY’s IT community by strengthening partnerships, improving system-wide coordination, and exemplifying the values of integrity, collaboration and service."

Hand is chair of the ITEC Executive Board, member of the SICAS Executive Board, the SUNY Security Operations Center Board, Digital Learning Environment Council, Digital Transformation Advisory Task Force and SUNY Policies and Standards Work Group. She also serves as treasurer of the SUNY Council of CIOs and chair of the Awards Committee.

“Mary’s recognition by her peers across the SUNY system is a reflection of her exceptional leadership, collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D., president of SUNY Adirondack. “Her work has strengthened our college and the broader SUNY community through meaningful partnerships and a shared commitment to innovation. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor and grateful for the expertise and vision she brings to SUNY Adirondack every day.”

Hand has been CIO at SUNY Adirondack since 2016. Before that, she served as vice president of Information Services at Albany Medical Center and director of Information Services at Glens Falls Hospital.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from the SUNY Council of CIOs,” Hand said. “It truly reflects the spirit of collaboration that exists across SUNY as campuses share ideas, support one another and work toward common goals. Some of our greatest accomplishments happen when we come together and recognize that we can do more, and do it better, by working together.”

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Siena University and a Master of Business Administration from the former The College of Saint Rose.

About SUNY Council of CIOs

The SUNY Council of CIOs is committed to promoting collaboration. Its values express the group’s desire to create an environment of open communication and cooperation to develop synergy within SUNY and among campuses.