MCNC picks North Carolina’s chief information officer as new CEO

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Tracy Doaks, North Carolina’s chief information officer and secretary for the N.C. Department of Information Technology, is taking over as chief executive officer at MCNC as of Aug. 1.

Doak’s selection was announced by MCNC, the RTP-based operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network, as of Aug. 1. She also has served on the MCNC advisory board.

Governor Roy Cooper selected Doaks as secretary of the Department of Information Technology in February to replace Eric Boyette, who stepped down to take up a new position as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Doaks will replace Jean Davis who announced plans in December to leave the position in order to care for her parents but has remained onboard until a successor was named.

“I have had the privilege to work with a talented and dedicated team at NCDIT the past four-and-a-half years and help improve the lives of North Carolinians through technology. As a member of the MCNC advisory council, I know the great work this organization does, and I am excited to join this team,” said Doaks in the announcement.

Doaks also has held senior information technology positions at the NC Department of Revenue, Duke Medicine, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Accenture. She was named the North Carolina Tech Public CIO of the Year in 2018.

Doaks earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University and then went on to earn her CIO certification from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government. She is also certified as a project management professional. Additionally, Doaks received the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award from North Carolina State University’s Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

MCNC’s CEO Jean Davis

“The history of MCNC is one of leadership and innovation, and we are fortunate that its critical role in connecting education, health care, public safety and more, especially in these challenging times, attracted a leader like Tracy. Her proven expertise will lead MCNC toward a dynamic future,” said Dr. A. Hope Williams, chair of the MCNC Board of Directors and president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, in a statement. “On behalf of the MCNC Board of Directors, the MCNC Advisory Council, our staff and the search committee, I want to thank Jean Davis for her dedicated leadership and I am excited to welcome Tracy as we usher in a new era for MCNC and for North Carolina.”

Davis led MCNC for six years and championed expansion of both the NCREN network as well as providing a growing suite of related network services.