November 9, 1999
Contact: Judith Galas, ITTC public relations and marketing manager, (785) 864-4776 or jgalas@ittc.ukans.edu.
LAWRENCE -- The Center for Research Inc. at the University of Kansas has appointed Victor Frost, Dan F. Servey distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science, as the new director of KU's Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (ITTC).
Frost has been the center's acting director since January 1998, after Sam Shanmugan, Southwestern Bell distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science, left the post. With a current research expenditure of $6.5 million, ITTC is the second largest research center on the Lawrence campus and one of the state's five centers of excellence.
"In terms of communication, we are living in an exciting time," said Frost, who earned all three of his degrees in electrical engineering and computer science at KU. "We have seen dramatic increases in network transmission capabilities, and the potential exists for the convergence of all communications into one transport mechanism." KU, he noted, has been at the forefront of these advances.
Frost will take the ITTC reins in August 2000. He is currently on sabbatical at Sprint Corp., in Overland Park, at the company's long-distance division. There he is investigating the architectures of future communications networks.
Joe Evans, Spahr professor of electrical engineering and computer science, will direct ITTC until Frost's return.
"ITTC is arguably the most important university research center in Kansas," said Robert Barnhill, vice chancellor for research and public service, "so its directorship is crucial to the state and to the nation. The long-term record of Dr. Frost and his colleagues in research and development is one of consistent excellence."
Barnhill noted that several recent decisions have stressed the importance of information technology to Kansas and to the country. KU recently identified information technology and ITTC as areas of research emphasis, and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts' statewide Committee on Science, Technology and the Future also underscored the importance of information technology research in Kansas.
Finally, an agreement signed by the chief executive officers at KU, Kansas State University and Wichita State University signaled KU's importance to this field. The agreement designates KU as the state's lead institution in information technology.