Women's History Month: Celebrating the Women of ITS
This Women’s History Month we’re highlighting three leaders — Andrea Dial, Darla Shrum and Kim Houghton — whose careers and contributions have helped shape technology, learning and operations across our campus. Their stories show different paths into Information Technology (IT), but all share a commitment to mentorship, collaboration and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in IT.
To all women at ITS: Thank you for your hard work, leadership and dedication that is shaping the future of technology at Florida State University.
It’s easy to forget we “stand on the shoulders” of so many women whose contributions made what we do today possible. Women’s History Month not only reminds us of the sacrifices that led to the rights and privileges we have today, it’s a reminder we still have work to do.
Q: Tell me about your role at ITS.
Andrea Dial: I am a Senior IT Project Manager in the Project Management Office. I lead many of the enterprise level technology projects and initiatives.
Darla Shrum: I serve in a leadership role within ITS and currently lead teams supporting Enterprise Document Management, Application Security, Decisions project coordination, and Enrollment Management Technology. My focus is leading and supporting my team by making sure they have the support and resources they need, connecting them with peers, and creating opportunities for them to learn and stretch in their careers. My goal is always to set them up so they can deliver great services and help improve business processes across the university.
Kim Houghton: My official title is Assistant Director, Communications and Strategic Initiatives for the Office of Digital Learning (ODL). That essentially means I provide leadership for our office’s communications and creative services – including the instructional media we produce for online courses. I also help facilitate the planning and implementation of ODL’s strategic initiatives, which are usually projects that require additional strategic planning and/or cross-unit collaboration.
Q: What brought you into technology and into ITS specifically?
Andrea: Out of high school, college seemed out of reach, so I went directly into the workforce. I worked as a receptionist on a help desk and learned that technology was a promising field for professional, personal, and financial security. That led me to apply to the community college and learn more about the technology field and explore areas I would be interested in. When I transferred to FSU I wanted to find a program that focused on people, as much as it focused on technology. I earned a double major in Information Studies and Sociology. The education and experience prepared me for the roles I wanted in business and technology. I was recruited into ITS to help lead one of the enterprise technology teams and spearhead the initial deployment of Microsoft's 365 at the university.
Darla: I grew up surrounded by family members in IT and I’ve always enjoyed learning new technology. My brother worked at FSU and encouraged me to make the jump from the private sector to higher education. He was absolutely right, working in higher ed has been really meaningful because we get to support students, help shape the future, and be surrounded by innovative research.
Kim: My first job out of college was with a technology startup, writing (and eventually producing) interactive educational and entertainment programs for CD-i, an optical disc technology that developed alongside CD-ROM and interactive LaserDisc. Much of my career has been spent designing, writing, and managing development for professional and continuing education applications in the private sector. Working in tech from a design and writing framework made it possible for me to bridge a love of learning with a passion for user experience. It’s also enabled me to be part of some amazing projects, from interactive documentaries and K-12 science courses to continuing education courses for primary care physicians and advanced practice oncology nurses. I joined the Office of Digital Learning in 2018, then became an official member of the ITS team in April 2024 as part of the university’s alignment of technology staff under the ITS umbrella.
Q: What’s a project you’re most proud of at ITS and why?
Andrea: There are two projects I am most proud of during my time in ITS. First, is the implementation of Microsoft's 365 for faculty, staff and students. This was a cloud service that provided a centralized platform for email, file storage, and messaging. This service significantly improved collaboration, communication, and productivity across the university. The second project I am proud of is the IT Alignment initiative, which aligns university IT professionals and resources to ITS. I have enjoyed every aspect of this project, from helping develop the strategy and approach, building and leading the project, as well as effectively managing the organizational change and impact. Although the alignment is important for improved security, increased cost savings, and improved standards and efficiency, we also gain a stronger community of IT professionals. Through this project, it has been important for us to foster the readiness of the employees for the transition and support them through and after the process. I am grateful that I have been able to be a part of all of it and I proud of the partnerships we've made.
Darla: I’m proud to be a part of the ITS alignment effort. It’s a big, collaborative initiative to bring together IT teams and campus partners across FSU, better understand our technology landscape, and move toward a more consistent approach to delivering services. It’s also helping ITS build stronger relationships and shared strategy across campus. This work is setting us up for success as we prepare for ERP modernization, which will be one of the most critical and complex projects ahead for FSU.
Kim: In 2021, we launched our first Easy Fix campaign, an initiative designed to address the overwhelm many instructors were experiencing when it came to improving the accessibility of their course materials in Canvas. The campaign, which became a recurring, annual email series, provided small, incremental, and “easy” changes instructors could take to immediately improve the accessibility of their course materials. Pointing instructors to accessibility resources in Canvas, each “easy fix” addresses some of the most common barriers to accessibility in digital course content.
Q: Who are the mentors that inspired or supported you throughout your career?
Andrea: Sadly, in my young career, I didn't have any women mentors. I had other female peers, but as I was growing in my career, there were only about 10-20% women in the technical field and not many women in leadership roles. With that being said, I have had a few wonderful male leaders and mentors throughout my career that have been supportive personally and professionally. I am forever grateful for my relationships with these individuals. As for the present time in ITS, we have a better representation of women in all levels of the organization, and I have established relationships with other women that are intelligent, inspiring, and supportive. I am at a phase in my life, where I hope I can share the same inspiration and support to other women growing through life and their careers.
Darla: Maria Whitaker was a mentor to me in ways I didn’t fully recognize at the time, but looking back, I can clearly see how much she invested in me and advocated for me. She worked incredibly hard and taught me to care about the small details that make a big difference. Things like polished presentations and clear communication, she also shaped how I think about project planning with a focus on organization and follow‑through. At the same time, she brought so much fun and warmth to our team.
Currently, I feel incredibly lucky to work under Jen Swain. She has supported and challenged me in exactly the right ways, meeting me where I am while also pushing me to stretch and grow. Jen leads with a balance of empathy and strength, and she has shown me that you don’t have to choose between being kind and being decisive, you can be both. She stepped in as my supervisor at a pivotal moment in my career, when I was ready to take the next step, and her trust in me and steady guidance have made that transition both empowering and a confidence‑building experience. Watching how thoughtfully she leads, advocates for her team, and navigates complex situations has had a meaningful impact on the kind of leader I strive to be.
These are just two examples of women across ITS and FSU that have strongly influenced my leadership values.
Kim: I had a supervisor early in my career who had, in her previous career, founded and operated a successful design agency in Boston, Massachusetts. At face value, her experience in technology was minimal, but I learned so much from her about managing creative teams and client relationships. I’ve taken that knowledge into every position I’ve had since.
Q: What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Andrea: Women's History Month is the celebration of women and honoring them for their contributions to and sacrifices for equal rights for voting, education, employment, salary and health. This month highlights the challenges, achievements, and progress women have made over the years. It also gives us an opportunity to reflect and evaluate where we need to continue to push for change, improving equal opportunities for women, and increasing representation in education and the workplace.
Darla: It’s a chance to reflect on the progress women have worked so hard for, the barriers they’ve broken, and the impact they’ve made. It’s a reminder that we have a responsibility to keep opening doors for each other, lifting each other up, and making sure future generations of women in tech have an even stronger path forward.
Kim: It’s easy to forget we “stand on the shoulders” of so many women whose contributions made what we do today possible. Women’s History Month not only reminds us of the sacrifices that led to the rights and privileges we have today, it’s a reminder we still have work to do.
Q: What advice would you give to young women considering a career in IT?
Andrea: One of the most important pieces of advice I can share with young women in IT is to be your own biggest advocate. Take the initiative and do not be intimidated to share your thoughts and ideas. Never stop learning and always find opportunities to learn more and do more. Embrace challenges and focus on solutions, not dwell on the problems. Find your tribe. Strengthen and use your human skills...it is a superpower that not everyone possesses.
Darla: Don’t wait until you feel “100% ready” to go after opportunities! Growth will come from doing the hard things, the things you don’t think you can do. Look for strong mentors, especially the women you admire, ask questions, and be curious and brave. And most importantly, support everyone, celebrate their wins, and help pull others up with you.
Kim: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Chances are high that someone else in the room has the same question, and everyone benefits when you’re willing to ask those questions!