UNLV Vice President for Digital Transformation and Chief Information Officer Kivanc Oner is getting pied on March 21, all for a good cause.

Oner is participating in Pie on Pida as part of Rebels Give, UNLV’s annual giving event that gives supporters a chance to donate to different campus interests. People who donate to the technology loan program can throw pies at Oner from 11:10 a.m. on Pida Plaza or chat with him and the UNLV Information Technology team about technology initiatives.

The technology loan program gives students the opportunity to borrow laptops for the whole semester at no cost. It started in 2020 as a way for students to still have access to technology when UNLV transitioned to remote instruction during the pandemic. With growing student interest, UNLV IT made the technology loan program a long-term service.

Donations from Rebels Give will help UNLV IT replace old laptops and expand the program, adding new devices and resources for students as the need for more technology for academics rises each year.

Growing the technology loan program based on what students need to succeed at UNLV is part of digital transformation, which Oner has led UNLV IT to champion since becoming the university’s first vice president for digital transformation and chief information officer.

Oner joins Vito Rocco, chief information security officer, in increasing awareness about cybersecurity initiatives at Pie on Pida. Together, they’ll encourage students, faculty, and staff to switch to Okta Verify for a faster, more secure multifactor authentication experience for donations to throw a pie at either one of them.  

Supporters can choose to donate to the technology loan program during Pie on Pida or make a gift online by visiting rebelsgive.unlv.edu. For more information about the UNLV IT campaign, visit the Rebels Give Power Through Technology site.