Welcome to the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, and thank you for agreeing to serve on our School's Board of Visitors (BOV). The faculty, staff and students here at the iSchool look forward to working with you as we continue to enhance our School's programs and international reputation.

As Dean of the School, I have the privilege to experience - first hand - the professional commitment and diverse expertise of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. For more than 100 years, the School has been educating information professionals. Our programs are highly regarded and our alumni have gone on to become leaders in their professions.

The iSchool has built a strong foundation, a tradition of leadership in education and research on information and its role in society. From this foundation we address the challenges accompanying sustained technological, societal and pedagogical changes. As a member of our BOV, you will provide a vital external voice by which the University assures the vitality of the research, teaching, and administrative practices at the School. We look to you for the guidance to strengthen our programs and to enhance the reputation of the School.

We hope that you will join us for the Board of Visitors' Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh on October 19-20, 2009.

Again, thank you for serving and I look forward to a very productive meeting.

Ronald L. Larsen
Dean and Professor