Joe Sawasky is president and CEO of Merit Network. He has extensive IT leadership experience, spanning higher education, healthcare, and manufacturing. He is an active member of the Merit Services Innovation Group and Merit Security Summit Planning Committee.rnrnPrior to joining Merit on August 31, 2015, Sawasky served as Chief Information Officer and Associate VP for computing and information technology at Wayne State University (WSU). During his time at WSU, he served as the University’s representative on the Merit Board of Directors, and most recently served as Board chair prior to becoming Merit’s president and CEO. Sawasky worked for the University of Toledo and University of Toledo (UT) Medical Center as Chief Information Officer and associate VP for information technology, prior to joining Wayne State University.rnrnSawasky participated on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Technology Leaders group and the Detroit CIO Executive Summit annual forum. He also was the convener of the President’s Council of the State Universities of Michigan CIO Committee. Sawasky is a University of Toledo graduate.