Kellen's appointment follows former CIO Mark A. Stone's retirement in September after more than 12 years with the university system.
Kellen, who brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education IT leadership to the role, will be responsible for guiding the system’s technology strategy across its 12 universities, health science center and statewide agencies.
Kellen most recently served as CIO at the University of California, San Diego, where he led modernization efforts in enterprise systems and research infrastructure. His work there included high-performance computing, in-memory data analytics and AI platform integration. He also previously held senior technology leadership roles at the University of Kentucky and DePaul University.
“The key factors in Dr. Kellen’s selection are his deep experience as a higher education CIO, his proven track record leading AI and supercomputing projects, and his commitment to process improvement and supporting business needs,” said Texas A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar in the system’s announcement. “He has the experience and temperament to lead the A&M System in both foundational and transformative IT work.”
As CIO, Kellen will oversee enterprise systems, IT infrastructure, data strategy and innovation initiatives systemwide. His priorities include advancing digital tools that support research, improving operational efficiency and enhancing student outcomes.
In a statement, Kellen said he was honored to join the system.
“Few institutions have the reach or responsibility of the Texas A&M University System,” he said. “I’m excited to help strengthen that work through technology that empowers our students, faculty, staff and communities.”
Kellen holds a doctorate in computer science with a focus on human-computer interaction, a master’s degree in e-commerce and a bachelor’s degree in communications, all from DePaul University. He is a CIO Hall of Fame inductee and a fellow of the Cutter Consortium.
