Our Consultants

Edutech consultants and writers bring literally decades of experience dealing with and managing computing resources in various higher education environments. All of our consultants, both full-time and part-time, have worked in higher education in positions of responsibility, and have a great deal of experience in information technology. Our experience includes long range and strategic planning, business process analysis, information technology assessments, administrative systems, computer center management, budgeting, end-user computing planning and implementation, telecommunications and networking, curriculum development, selection and implementation of new computer hardware, project management for new software systems, academic computing facilities planning and management, private telephone system selection, and the design of new technology building facilities.

A key characteristic of Edutech consultants is our ability to build a relationship of trust on campus; our knowledge of the institution comes from talking with its people. We do not use jargon. We know how to interview and conduct meetings in a way that promotes honest information exchange and sharing. We use our experience to make group discussions positive and productive.

Linda Fleit

Linda Fleit is the president of Edutech International, and has been in the field of higher education computing since 1970. She has held positions at Tufts University, Boston College, the Harvard Business School, and the University of Hartford prior to founding Edutech International in 1985. In addition to her consulting, Linda edits and does a major portion of the writing for The EDUTECH REPORT. Her particular expertise is in assessment, strategic planning, organizational issues, the articulation of information technology needs, and information technology management. Linda has written extensively for publications such as CIO Magazine, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Bulletin of the American Association of Higher Education, and CAUSE/EFFECT magazine. Among Linda’s most popular writings is a book chapter about information technology assessments and their role in strategic planning (in Doing Academic Planning, published by the Society for College and University Planning).

John Savarese

John Savarese has been in the field of higher education information technology for over eighteen years and has been a full-time Consulting Principal with Edutech since 1996. He has held positions ranging from tenured faculty member in the English department (Sweet Briar College) to Assistant Director of Academic Computing (Davidson College) to Director of Computing and Information Systems (Vassar College). John has written extensively for publications such as University Business magazine, and has consulted with a wide variety of institutions, including Susquehanna University, Westmont College, Doane College, Rhode Island School of Design, Community College of Philadelphia, The Ohio State University, Siena College, Loyola Marymount University, Plattsburgh State University of New York, Nazareth College, and Kutztown University.

Steven Rothman

Steven Rothman is a communications specialist and has been associated with Edutech since its beginnings in 1985. By developing communications plans for strategic change, creating materials and events, and coaching individual administrators, Steven has helped institutions implement complex change for more than twenty years. He has extensive experience working directly with senior management, including presidents, vice presidents, and chief information officers, as well as implementing broadly based communications plans, including video, web-based, audio, and written publications. He has consulted for many institutions over the years, such as the University of Hartford, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Board of Governors Universities.

Diane Dixon

Diane Dixon has been a Consulting Associate with Edutech since 1998. Diane is an organizational development specialist whose areas of expertise include consensus building, strategic planning, human resource development, needs assessments, professional development programs, transformational leadership, change management strategies and implementation, leadership development, team building, executive coaching, and management and supervisory training. Diane has consulted with a wide variety of institutions and organizations, including George Washington University, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, the University of Maryland, Howard University, and a joint venture between the University of Southern California and the Department of the Interior. 

Ed Merck

Ed Merck has brought creative thinking to conventional roles in higher education for over twenty-five years. During that time he has served as both chief financial officer and faculty member in the field of historical musicology, at several prestigious colleges and universities including Wheaton College (Vice President for Finance and Operations and faculty), Eastman School of Music (Head of Administrative Services), and Wesleyan University (faculty). Currently Ed is a full-time consultant in higher education advising on a wide range of critical areas including business process improvement in all areas of college operations, information technology, financial management, strategic planning, and leadership development. Ed has been part of the Edutech consulting team for a number of projects, including the Rhode Island School of Design, Prince George's Community College, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and Bentley College. His most recent publication was an article in Trusteeship, based on an innovative plan for faculty pay that he created while at Wheaton between 1989 and 1999.

Harry Richardson

Harry Richardson has been a Consulting Principal with Edutech since its founding. He specializes in institutional business strategies, process analysis, project management, and systems. He has consulted on many projects that required turnaround management and project redesign in order to reach successful conclusions.