Ann Stunden joined Cornell University's Information Technologies as director of support services and academic computing earlier this month (January).

Stunden will work with academic and administrative units to assure that adequate support exists throughout Cornell to enable faculty and staff to use information technologies in pursuit of the university's academic mission. As director of support services and academic computing, she is responsible for information technologies services, including those supporting the digital library, public information services, direct support activities, support of desktop and network operating environments, support of faculty to bring technology to the teaching and learning environment and improved technology support for researchers.

"I am honored to have been selected for this position at Cornell," Stunden said. "I have watched the work of the Cornell technology organizations for many years and relish the opportunity to be a part of this environment. I look forward to helping the university community take full advantage of the potentials of technology." H. David Lambert, vice president for information technologies at Cornell, said: "We are lucky to find in Ann a combination of 30 years of experience in information technology, a proven ability in working with faculty to meet their goals and recognized dedication as a mentor to her staff." A key area Stunden will focus on this year, Lambert said, is establishing a model of information technology support distributed among colleges, libraries, research centers and other academically focused entities.

Ronnie Coffman, chair of the Faculty Advisory Board on Information Technology (FABIT), said: "Ann Stunden will have responsibility for the interface between information technologies and the people of the Cornell community. Although we are a very diverse community with very diverse needs, I believe Ann has the experience and proven ability to make technology work for all of us."

Stunden comes to Cornell from Northwestern University where she has served as director of academic computing and network services since 1991. She was responsible for the management of major components of basic computing and network service infrastructure on campus including electronic mail, news groups, World Wide Web services, electronic classrooms and installation of network connections, and was responsible for support of faculty and student computing including a faculty oriented instructional technology program and facilities, public computing facilities, training for students, and training and consulting for faculty.

Stunden earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1957. She was a programmer and systems engineer in California, Washington, D.C., and New York City through the 1960s and 1970s. Stunden managed computer systems for Strong Memorial Hospital from 1980 to 1986 and was director of the computing center at the University of Rochester until 1991, when she left for Northwestern.