CANTON - Justin D. Sipher has been appointed vice president for libraries and information technology at St. Lawrence University, President William L. Fox announced today.

Sipher, a native of Gouverneur who earned degrees at SUNY Potsdam, has been chief technology officer at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, since 2005. He will begin his duties at St. Lawrence on Aug. 27.

At St. Lawrence, Sipher will be charged with developing a strategic vision that builds on the collaborative work of the University's libraries and information technology, as well as the staff in these two areas. He will lead the development of a Learning Commons, to be housed in Owen D. Young Library and promoting integration of new information and computing systems for teaching, learning and administrative work.

"Our work to develop a new senior position to give leadership, oversight and strategic integration in dual areas vital to campus life - the libraries and technology - has been unhurried and deliberate," President Fox said. "Everyone who met and spoke with Justin during his campus visits was deeply impressed with his thoughtfulness and concrete ideas for enhanced collaboration between the libraries and information technology. We look forward to Justin's leadership as we build on the value and opportunities these departments provide the campus community."Sipher earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from SUNY Potsdam, and worked there from 1994 to 2005.

He held a variety of positions at the college during that time, ultimately being named assistant vice president for information technology, the senior technology officer with responsibility for academic, administrative and communications technology. At Skidmore, Sipher has led the Information Technology division, with responsibility for development of information technology strategies, acquisition and implementation of new technology, and communication of technological information to students, faculty and staff.