September 29, 2000

Contact: Ranjit Arab, University Relations, (785) 864-8855.

KU official receives national Internet technology award

Jerry Niebaum, assistant vice-chancellor of Information Services at KU, will receive the Leadership in Profession Award during the Educause 2000 conference Oct. 12 in Nashville, Tenn.

Brian Hawkins, president of Educause, said Niebaum was selected for the award by a board of his peers. "It clearly shows the esteem Jerry is held in, and the idea of contributing to the profession - not just one's campus," Hawkins said.

Along with his duties at KU, Niebaum is the information technology liaison to the Kansas state government for the Council of Chief Academic Officers of the six regents universities.

"Jerry Niebaum has worked relentlessly to help place KU and the other regents institutions on the cutting edge of information technology," said KU Provost David Shulenberger. "This award reflects highly on his vast body of work."

Most recently, Niebaum has spearheaded several high-speed network projects that have revolutionized research efforts throughout the Midwest. As principal investigator of the Great Plains Network for Earth Sciences, Niebaum has helped establish a comprehensive high-speed network that connects scientists from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. As principal investigator of the Kansas Research and Education Network, Niebaum has helped connect all schools and libraries throughout Kansas with worldwide electronic information resources.

Hawkins, who has worked with Niebaum for more than 20 years, is impressed with Niebaum's ability to adapt to changes in information technology.

"His career spans different generations of technology leadership and perspective," Hawkins said. "He's just a valued colleague who is always there to offer advice and counsel from his many years of experience whenever he is asked."

Educause, an international nonprofit association with offices in Washington, D.C., and Boulder, Colo., works to assist higher education through the use of information technology. More than 1,700 colleges, universities and education organizations, and more than 150 corporations, are members.