H. David Lambert, who has been instrumental in developing Cornell information technologies for the past nine years, will leave the university on Dec. 31. He has been vice president for information technologies since 1995, and director of network services from 1989 to 1995.

Lambert will assume the newly created position of vice president for information services and chief information officer at Georgetown University.

"My service at Cornell has provided me with the most fulfilling and exciting professional opportunity of my life," Lambert said. "I have had the pleasure to work with the most capable and dedicated technology professionals whose efforts have brought about exciting new applications of technology that have made Cornell a stronger university. I have witnessed a new era of faculty involvement in technology that bodes extremely well for the institution."

The new Georgetown position, he added, "will provide an array of exciting professional challenges for me. In addition, it will allow me to spend the next chapter of my career much closer to my family in West Virginia, a prospect that at this time in my life has profound personal significance."

Provost Don M. Randel commented, "It is with very considerable regret that I have accepted Dave Lambert's decision to resign. I will miss his leadership very much indeed, both within the Cornell community and for Cornell on the national scene."

For the immediate future, Randel said, "We must ensure that Cornell remains one of the world's leading institutions in information technologies. The depth of talent that we have in Cornell Information Technologies (CIT) as an organization will be a crucial asset."

A broad search for a new head of information technologies will begin immediately, Randel said.

"Each of the three divisions of CIT is embarked on major undertakings, and these must not be allow to hesitate or drift," Randel said. "These divisions are led by very gifted people who know how to carry on. Hence, these three people -- Helen Mohrmann, Pete Siegel and Ann Stunden -- will constitute an executive committee, with me as chair, that will see us through whatever transitional period there may be until a new vice president for information technologies takes office."

Before coming to Cornell in 1989, Lambert was assistant director for network services at Indiana University. At Cornell, he led the university's involvement in the development of its national research and educational network and was instrumental in the development of NYNET, a high-speed network corridor connecting major research facilities in New York State.

Lambert oversaw implementation of initiatives like Bear Access, Just the Facts, Employee Essentials and the World Wide Web. He also has been involved with Project 2000, Cornell's effort to make its administrative processes more effective and efficient.