Faculty Profile
Dear Readers:
Starting with this issue, Bibliofile will profile a different faculty member each month. This month we begin with Ronald L. Larsen, the dean of SIS.
Name: Ronald L. Larsen
Position: SIS dean
Education: Bachelor of Science in engineering sciences at
Purdue University, Master of Science in applied physics at The Catholic
University of America, and the Ph.D. in computer science at the University
of Maryland, College Park
Research interests: information technology, digital
libraries, location-aware computing, computer networks
How he became interested in these subjects: Dr. Larsen was
Assistant VP for Computing at the University of Maryland when he was offered
the position of Associate Director for Information Technology in the University
of Maryland libraries. This position allowed him to apply his background
in computers and systems to the library, and as they say, the rest is history.
How he describes his position as dean: Dr. Larsen
sees his position as dean as made up of three primary responsibilities:
1) to leverage the strengths of SIS in order to advance the development and
understanding of an information-intensive global society; 2) to support the
faculty in their commitment to educate the information professionals that
society needs; and 3) to provide leadership and coordination to make the
school a vibrant intellectual component of the university, the community,
and the world. In short, Dr. Larsen strives to continue the traditions
of dynamic leadership that have been the hallmarks of SIS's historic success.
His ultimate objective is to provide an environment in which the faculty
and students of SIS can excell.
Family: Dr. Larsen has a wife, Lida, who received her MLS
from the University of Maryland. He also has three grown children:
Peter, Stephen, and Elise.
What he likes about Pittsburgh: 1) The people here
are friendly, open, and welcoming. 2) It is a vibrant academic city.
3) It is a good city for the theater, symphony, and jazz.
Hobbies: Scuba diving (especially cave diving), bike riding,
playing the piano
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Breyer's Butter Almond
Book he is currently reading: The Sot-weed Factor
by John Barth
Favorite Books: A Prayer for Owen Meany by
John Irving, and The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene.
Favorite TV Show: Frasier
The Final Question: What else would he like students
to know about him? Dr. Larsen wants students to feel free to talk
to him about what they like (or dislike) about SIS. In particular,
he is interested in why they chose this school and how SIS can improve its
services. In order to make SIS as successful as possible, it's necessary
to attract the best faculty, staff, and students. Students are the
life blood of the university--the very reason it exists--and their voices
are extremely important.. Don't be a stranger.
Bibliofile thanks Dr. Larsen for agreeing to this interview.
It was a pleasure speaking with him.
Publication of the Department of Library &
Information Science
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Last updated October 30, 2002