Office of Project Management & Strategic Consulting
The Office of Project Management and Strategic Consulting supports Tulane’s administrative units by providing consultation and expertise for major initiatives and change efforts.
- Strategic Planning: Assist in bench marking, establishing goals, identifying the actions needed for transformation, and methods for determining success.
- Portfolio Management: Help units to identify and prioritize needs in order to focus on the right set of programs and projects at the right time.
- Project Management: Deliver expertise and support to ensure that projects are executed successfully, within budget and on schedule.
- Change Management: Provide guidance and support in navigating and communicating change.
- Process Improvement: Work with units to identify opportunities to optimize services, eliminate waste, and increase value.
- Support a Community of Practice: Develop skills within the Tulane community through building partnerships, sharing knowledge, and by providing training, tools, and templates.
Who We Are
Assistant Vice President of Project Management & Strategic Consulting
Jai Shankar
Jai Shankar joined Tulane in May 2019 as the Assistant Vice President of Project Management and Strategic Consulting. A newly created department, this office supports and explores many of the initiatives charged by the Office of the COO.
Jai spent much of his career in Higher Education leading strategic, operational and technology transformations, with experience in the fields of Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, Student Accounts, Grants Management, Financial Aid and Enrollment Management. Prior to joining Tulane, Jai was with the Middlebury College for 15 years where he took on various responsibilities. He was a member of the due diligence team that resulted in a merger with the Monterey Institute (now called Middlebury Institute) in CA. After the merger, Jai spent six years at the Middlebury Institute where he oversaw Finance, Budget and Planning, HR, Facilities and Business Services.
Jai is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey with a degree in Economics, and a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University with a Master’s in Organizational Leadership.
Director of Organizational Change
John Patrick
John Patrick joined Tulane in September 2021 as Director of Organizational Change. John has over 25 years’ experience working with leaders at all levels on strategy, transformational change, internationalization, and leadership development. Prior to joining Tulane, he worked at University of California Berkeley Global/Extension as Director of Strategy and Partnerships. John has also led a wide variety of strategy and change projects for leading organizations such as Disney, The BBC, Deloitte, PwC Consulting, IBM, BP, Bertelsmann, Ericsson, and Verizon. Earlier in his career, John was selected as a Presidential Fellow, serving in the US Treasury Department. His experience includes almost two decades working overseas, and he is fluent in French. John is a graduate of Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies. He earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Current Responsibilities:
- Organizational change across the department’s project portfolio, including initiatives such as the migration of Tulane's core IT systems to the cloud; the implementation of Prosci change management methodology across the university; new processes and system for grants lifecycle management; Anaplan implementation, among others.
Senior Project Manager
Christi Longlois
Christi Longlois joined the Project Management and Strategic Consulting Office in May 2021 as a Senior Project Manager. Christi has over 20 years of experience at Tulane University, including advising, graduate admissions, and information technology application training. Prior to her current role, she was a Project Manager in Tulane’s Information Technology department, where she helped implement the COVID testing program for the Tulane community. Christi has volunteered at many New Orleans area non-profits, including completing a year with Americorps. Christi earned a master’s degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Historical Archeology at University of Arkansas.
Current Responsibilities:
- Grant Lifecycle Management
- PCI/DSS Compliance
Digital Communications Coordinator
DeVaughn Myers
DeVaughn Myers joined the Project Management and Strategic Consulting Office in September 2023 as a Digital Communications Coordinator. Prior to his current role, he was a Digital Communications Coordinator in Campus Services and a Program Coordinator in the Anesthesiology department at Tulane, where he managed their website and medical student clerkship. DeVaughn is a graduate of Dillard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications. He earned his Master of Science in Marketing and Communications degree at Loyola University New Orleans. In his free time, he enjoys fine dining and live music.
Current Responsibilities:
- Managing department website
- WaveWorks! project website
WaveWorks (Oracle Cloud Transformation Initiative) Program Management
Sridhar Ramakrishnan
Sridhar (Sri) Ramakrishnan is experienced in providing strategies and oversight for digital transformation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) programs in compliance with the Oracle Cloud Implementation Methodology and best practices using Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). He has over 25 years of experience in both professional consulting services & end client PMO organizations. Sri believes in a strong program governance model which provides a risk-averse framework for efficient, effective decision-making & delivery management focused on achieving program goals.
In working with senior leadership, Sri has gained proficiency in transforming leadership vision and strategic initiatives into actionable programs, projects, assisting PMOs in evaluating, developing project roadmaps based on the leadership vision, goals and priorities.
Sri lives in Northern California with his wife, enjoys music and exploring the bay area backroads.
Current Responsibilities:
- WaveWorks(Oracle Cloud Transformation Initiative) Program Management
WaveWorks (Oracle Cloud Transformation Initiative) Project Manager
Vikesh Sudarsanan
Vikesh Sudarsanan joined the Project Management and Strategic Consulting Office in January 2025 as HCM Project Manager-WaveWorks. He has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of IT and Human Resources, specialized in designing, implementing, and optimizing Human Capital Management (HCM) systems that empower organizations to operate more efficiently, strategically, and employee-centrically.
Vikesh's expertise spans Oracle HCM Cloud, Workday, and PeopleSoft, and led large-scale transformation projects across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services. From data migrations and system architecture to cloud integrations and end-user support, he brings a full-stack understanding of HR technology.
He combines technical leadership with a collaborative mindset—ensuring that every solution design aligns with business goals, enhances the employee experience, and supports long-term scalability. Vikesh is also certified in PMI-ACP, CSM, Oracle Cloud technologies, and experienced in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
Whether it’s modernizing legacy systems or delivering data-driven HR insights, his focus is always on helping teams unlock the full potential of their people through smart, strategic technology.
WaveWorks (Oracle Cloud Transformation Initiative) Senior Project Manager
Habeeb Ahmed
Habeeb has over 20+ years of experience in design, implementation, and optimization of large-scale ERP, SCM and HCM solutions using Oracle Cloud aimed to drive efficiency, transparency, and cost reduction.
- Oracle Cloud implementations for multiple deployment cycles within Healthcare, Insurance, Banking, Energy and significant focus on Higher Ed institutions
- I have significant experience in Business process redesign, data management, data cleansing, data governance, change management, testing, shared services deployment, application security, chart of account redesign, project management and enterprise reporting design
- Managed onshore and offshore team as part of the full software development lifecycle for various system enhancement efforts to improve technology adoption and foster stabilization.
- Strong C-suite leadership management and transform vision into actionable items
- Presented at Oracle World on SOD and Data Governance.
Habeeb lives in Michigan with his wife and two kids, enjoy soccer and traveling.
WaveWorks (Oracle Cloud Transformation Initiative) Senior Business Analyst
Shannon Aicklen
Shannon joined the Project Management and Strategic Consulting Office in April 2025 as a Senior Business Analyst. She brings over 20 years of experience in operations, human resources, finance, budgeting, and strategic planning, primarily at Tulane’s National Primate Research Center, where she most recently served as Department Administrator II. Her work is marked by a deep commitment to stakeholder engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and change leadership, including coaching employees across the university as a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths and Tulane University certified Leadership and Resilience Coach.
Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to develop and execute initiatives that drive successful adoption and long-term value—skills that will be instrumental in supporting Tulane’s Oracle Cloud transition and ongoing administrative enhancements. A recipient of Tulane’s President’s Staff Excellence Award, she has also played leadership roles in numerous institutional committees and planning efforts across campuses. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts, graduating cum laude from Tulane University. Highly adaptable and known for exceptional organizational skills, she is passionate about fostering a collaborative, forward-thinking culture that aligns with Tulane’s values and strategic vision.
Current Responsibilities:
- Plays a key role in preparing Tulane for a successful Oracle Cloud go-live, with responsibilities spanning testing, documentation, data validation, training, change management, and quality control.
- Post-implementation, she will help support quarterly Oracle updates and long-term organizational growth through robust data analytics, reporting, and system enhancements.
WaveWorks (Oracle Cloud Transformation Initiative) Business Analyst II
Lindsay Kaufman
Lindsay Kaufman is a strategic and results-driven Business Analyst II on Tulane University's WaveWorks! Team, where she plays a critical role in advancing technology solutions to support university operations and drive innovation. With a strong background in project management, business analysis, and stakeholder engagement, Lindsay specializes in translating complex business needs into effective, actionable system improvements. Her professional approach blends technical proficiency with collaborative leadership, ensuring smooth integrations, successful data conversions, and optimized business operations. Lindsay is dedicated to driving continuous improvement and meaningful impact within both her workplace and the wider community.
