Ryan Gray is joined by Isaac Abbs, Chief Information Officer at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Isaac walks through what the CIO role really demands in higher ed—leadership, clarity, and the ability to solve problems at a level that changes outcomes for the institution. He reflects on his career path (public sector to higher ed and back), why the CIO role appealed to him early, and what it means to lead technology in a way that helps people get somewhere they didn’t think was possible.
From there, the conversation gets practical: the modern CIO job as a “people business,” the need for visibility and relentless communication, and how trust is built through responsiveness and relationships. They also dig into AV strategy and room experience—right-sizing classroom tech, avoiding “technology for technology’s sake,” and pushing for spaces that don’t require a manual. Zoom Rooms, simpler conference room experiences, and AV-over-IP as a path toward consistency and usability all come up as part of Isaac’s roadmap for making the experience smoother for faculty and staff.
Topics Discussed
- What Pima Community College looks like (scale, campuses, student profile)
- Why Isaac aimed for the CIO role early
- Career “boomerang” moves and returning with broader perspective
- What the CIO role actually is day-to-day (and what people misunderstand)
- Balancing executive demands with family life and burnout risk
- CIO leadership as “people-first,” not tech-first
- Being visible to earn a seat at decision tables
- Communication as strategy: transparency, newsletters, responsiveness
- “Easy button” room expectations and right-sizing classroom tech
- Zoom Rooms + AV-over-IP as simplification and standardization levers
Connect with Isaac Abbs
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-abbs
Connect with Ryan
@Ryan_A_Gray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
ryan@higheredav.com
Voiceover by Chris Dechter
Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!
This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!
