Donald Z. Spicer is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and CIO for the University System of Maryland. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR). In his University System of Maryland capacity he provides strategic direction and coordination for IT activities across the 12- institution System of public higher education in Maryland. In his role as ECAR Fellow he participates in national research studies regarding trends and issues related to IT in higher education.

As an ECAR Senior Fellow he has regularly published case studies and research bulletins related to noteworthy IT activities on the use of information technology in higher education. He has also published book chapters in recent years including a chapter in The Wired Tower: Perspectives on the impact of the Internet on Higher Education edited by Matthew Pittinsky (2003, Financial Times-Prentice Hall) and a chapter in CIO Leadership Strategies (2005, Aspatore Books).