About Office
The Digital Risk Office was established in January 2022 with a mission to create a culture of digital risk awareness and facilitate digital risk management across the University of Illinois System to ensure the integrity of its digital assets and information. The Digital Risk Office will maintain partnerships across the System with stakeholders from academic, research, healthcare, business, risk, information technology, administration, privacy, and cybersecurity areas. Under the EVP/VPAA, the office will guide System-level policy development and implementation in all areas concerning digital risk. It will advise and assist risk owners with those items in the Enterprise Risk Register that intersect with major technology initiatives, advocate for and direct appropriate resources to address digital risk priorities, and advise the President, Chancellors, CIOs, and other university leaders on appropriate risk mitigation measures.
Meet the Staff
Joe Barnes, Chief Digital Risk Officer
Joe started with the office in January 2022 and oversees the Digital Risk Office and the U of I System’s Digital Risk Management Program. Joe has over 25 years of experience in information technology, both in the corporate and academic setting, with 15 of those years focusing on cybersecurity and privacy issues in various roles for UIUC and the University of Illinois Foundation.
Heather Myers, Senior Project Coordinator
Heather started with the office in March 2023 and is responsible for coordinating and helping to ensure success for all digital risk projects and initiatives across the three universities, hospitals, and system offices. She brings over 15 years of experience managing diverse teams to ensure collaboration, efficiency, smooth implementation, and operational excellence.
Stefan Wahe, HIPAA Privacy and Security Official
Stefan started with the office in September 2023 and is responsible for overseeing the HIPAA Office and the U of I System’s HIPAA Program. He brings over 20 plus years of information security, privacy, and risk management experience within higher education to the HIPAA Office.
