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 PITTSBURGH—Ronald
L. Larsen has been named dean of the University of Pittsburgh
School of Information Sciences (SIS), effective July
1, 2002. Larsen is leaving his post as executive
director of the Maryland Applied Information Technology
Initiative, where he directs the activities of a consortium
of 10 Maryland universities. He replaces Toni Carbo, who
is stepping down after serving as SIS dean for 17 years
and is returning to research and teaching as a professor
in SIS and Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International
Affairs.
During his distinguished career, Larsen has provided
regional and national leadership in information technology,
distance education, and digital library initiatives. In
his current position, he also serves as the deputy director
of the Maryland Information and Network Dynamics Lab,
a component laboratory of the University of Maryland Institute
for Advanced Computer Studies, and as an affiliate associate
professor of computer science at the University of Maryland.
He has conceived and implemented several major information
management and digital library research programs at the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the research
and development organization for the Department of Defense.
In announcing the appointment, Pitt Provost James V.
Maher said, “Dr. Larsen’s talent, energy,
and integrity, along with his national prominence in his
field, make him eminently qualified to build on the strengths
and priorities of the School of Information Sciences.
I have great confidence that Dr. Larsen will provide
the dynamic academic, organizational, and research leadership
needed to make our School of Information Sciences programs
as strong as they can possibly become.”
Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg noted, “Dr.
Larsen’s career has been characterized by high achievement
and innovative thinking and includes a wealth of direct
relevant experi-ence in information technology and library
science.
“The stature of our School of Information Sciences
has grown substantially during
Dr. Carbo’s service as dean,” Chancellor
Nordenberg continued, “and we know that
Dr. Larsen’s future efforts will be one of the
keys to sustaining that momentum.”
Larsen earned the Bachelor of Science degree in engineering
sciences at Purdue University, the Master of Science degree
in applied physics at The Catholic University of America,
and the Ph.D. degree in computer science at the University
of Maryland, College Park.
Pitt’s School of Information Sciences is widely
recognized for its Master of Science in Telecommunications
program, its telecommunications track in the Ph.D. program,
and its Master of Library and Information Science program,
which ranks among the top three in the nation, according
to U.S. News & World Report. |
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