KU News Release

Victor Frost to step down as director of KU’s telecommunication research center

Victor Frost

LAWRENCE — Victor Frost, director of the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center at the University of Kansas since 1997, today announced he will leave that position next August. Frost, the Dan F. Servey Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will focus on research and teaching duties in the fall of 2008.

“ITTC is an exciting environment, and I look forward to continuing my research here,” said Frost. “The faculty, staff and students have achieved a lot during the past 10 years. Their work is exceptional, in such dynamic areas of research as charting the future of the Internet, developing the next generation of wireless communications technology, expanding the capabilities of radio frequency identification, creating new radar processing techniques and advancing bioinformatics. All of these areas are growing in importance, and ITTC is making a significant contribution.”

During Frost’s tenure, faculty affiliated with ITTC have generated more than $55 million in research expenditures, including $4.1 million in 2005-06. Frost expressed his appreciation to the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, as well as federal agencies and industry sponsors, for their financial support of ITTC research.

“We are one of five KTEC Centers of Excellence in the state, a distinction that means we both seek new knowledge and turn it into commercial applications,” Frost said.

For example, last spring ITTC entered into two licensing agreements for its innovative KU-Tag technology, a radio frequency identification system that improves the inventory tracking of liquid containers and metal objects.

“Victor is doing an outstanding job at ITTC and always has, but I can understand his decision,” said Steve Warren, interim vice provost for research and graduate studies. “He’s a great example of an active researcher with the ability to lead a diverse group of colleagues in multiple directions.”

Warren said a search for Frost’s successor will begin in the near future. A new director should be in place by August.

Frost has held senior administrative positions with ITTC and a predecessor lab since 1987. He became acting director in 1997 and director in 2000. His background includes bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from KU, all in electrical engineering. He joined the faculty in 1982, advanced to full professor in 1992 and was named a distinguished professor in 1996.

Frost teaches classes in communication networks and systems at KU. His research interests include Internet traffic management, network quality of service and network modeling. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the recipient of a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award in 1984. Last spring, Frost spent three months at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand as a Visiting Erskine Fellow. In 1999-2000, he spent a sabbatical year with Sprint Corp.

About ITTC

The Information and Telecommunication Technology Center advances knowledge and creates innovative technologies in telecommunications, information systems, bioinformatics and radar. As one of KU’s largest and most high-profile research centers, ITTC’s resources, affiliated faculty members and state-of-the-art facilities support a variety of multidisciplinary projects. As a KTEC Center of Excellence, ITTC is committed to the continued growth and diversity of the state’s economy. Under faculty guidance, graduate and undergraduate students in ITTC conduct fundamental research and develop strategic solutions for Kansas companies and national industries.

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