UAB Vice President for Student Affairs Douglas Rigney, Ph.D., has been named interim vice president for Information Technology (IT), a position he will assume Sept 25.

Rigney's appointment comes as a result of the departure of outgoing Vice President Sheila Sanders, who is retiring from UAB after more than 25 years.

"Doug was a natural fit to lead IT during this interim period because of his background in engineering, his long institutional memory and understanding of UAB operations, as well as the leadership role he played when we implemented the Banner student information system," said President Carol Garrison. "That was a very complex implementation, executed with strong leadership and organizational skills that will serve IT well moving forward.

"Sheila Sanders will be missed. She is another with a long history at UAB, and she has provided outstanding direction to IT," Garrison said. "We wish her all the best."

Rigney has served as vice president for Student Affairs since 2006. For the immediate future, the division will report directly to Provost Eli Capilouto.

Rigney has a long association with UAB, dating back to the 1970s when he began his undergraduate education, leading to a bachelor of science in engineering. After three years as an engineer with Alabama Power, he returned to UAB and earned a bachelor's degree in materials engineering and master's and doctoral degrees in biomedical engineering. He joined the UAB faculty in 1989 as an assistant professor in materials science and engineering, moving up the ranks to professor of biomedical engineering in 2005. Rigney also has been assistant dean for Academic and Student Affairs and associate dean of the School of Engineering.

Active both in the profession and community, Rigney has served in leadership roles in the Academy of Dental Materials, the Society of Biomaterials and the Alabama Electron Microscopy Society, plus the UAB National Alumni Society, Cahaba Heights and the Community Schools Advisory Council.