Case Study: Pfeiffer University achieves a future-proof, centrally managed campus network with Cisco Meraki

Pfeiffer University - Customer Case Study

Pfeiffer University, a private liberal arts college of about 2,000 students, faced an aging campus network with no centralized management or visibility. When Dr. Ken Russell joined as VP of Digital Transformation and CIO, his six‑person DTT team sought a future‑ready solution and selected Cisco Meraki — deploying Meraki MS switches, MR access points, and MX security appliances to replace disparate legacy systems.

Cisco Meraki implemented a multigigabit network (MS220/MS320/MS350/MS425 switches, MR53 APs, and six MX appliances across campuses) with a single dashboard for management, analytics, heatmaps, and site‑to‑site VPNs. The deployment delivered centralized troubleshooting and faster configuration (eliminating per‑device SSH), prioritized VoIP and LMS traffic, enforced security and traffic shaping, and provided the visibility and segregation needed for clinical accreditation — creating a reliable, future‑proof environment for students and staff.

Pfeiffer University

Ken Russell

VP of Digital Transformation and CIO