ITS Leadership

Karen McCarthy

Deputy Chief Information Officer
Associate Vice President, IT Operations 

Karen McCarthy brings over 20 years of experience managing operations and strategic initiatives into her role at Northeastern University. She’s been a member of the ITS Leadership Team since 2015, working to create and deliver services that enhance learning spaces, student experiences, and operational excellence for the university community. As deputy CIO and associate vice president of information technology and IT operations, she oversees numerous operational and innovative functions, including IT service management, learning and collaboration space technology, IT program and project management, human resources, finance and administration, and D.Studio. Before coming to Northeastern, she held leadership positions at Orion Health and John Hancock Life Insurance Company.  

Marcus P. Robinson (he/him)

Deputy Chief Information Officer
Associate Vice President, Experience and Engagement

Marcus Robinson has more than 20 years of experience in private and public higher education. He’s been a member of Northeastern’s ITS Leadership Team since 2019, first as associate vice president of engagement and experience and more recently as deputy CIO. In these roles, he counsels the CIO, IT leaders, and other university stakeholders in key decisions for advancing the university’s goals, priorities, strategic direction, and mission. His portfolio at Northeastern includes web strategy and governance, IT communication, IT customer experience, and digital university solutions. He has extensive experience at other world-class institutions of higher education, including the University of Chicago, Penn State University, and the University of Dayton. 

Lisa Soto

Associate Vice President, Infrastructure

Lisa Soto joined Northeastern University as associate vice president for infrastructure in January 2024, bringing over 35 years of experience in technology and operations. In her current role, she’s responsible for delivering value to the global university and its community through reliable and efficient infrastructure solutions, including identity and access management, network and communications infrastructure, and cloud and server infrastructure. Working collaboratively with the rest of the IT Leadership Team, Lisa helps drive digital transformation, streamline processes, and enhance efficiency. She’s led teams and initiatives with leading companies, including John Hancock, Eversource, and IBM, and has a proven track record of designing and managing large-scale hybrid technology environments, transforming operations, and aligning IT strategies with business goals. 

Brighid Whalen

Assistant Vice President of Innovation, Products and Technology 

Brighid Whalen has more than 20 years of experience in enterprise technology and strategic business solutions. She’s been a member of Northeastern ITS since 2011, progressing through increasingly senior roles to her current position as assistant vice president of innovation, products, and technology. In this role, she leads enterprise product and platform teams, overseeing the development and implementation of technology solutions that advance the university’s strategic objectives and mission. Throughout her time at Northeastern, Brighid has led or managed service management, aspects of project management, IT operations, business analysis, training, communications, and various platforms. She has extensive experience at other world-class organizations, including Adidas, Digitas, Procter & Gamble, and Gillette. Brighid also holds two degrees from Northeastern: a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and Accounting, as well as a Master’s degree in Communications.