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Missouri Takes a National Leadership Role

MOREnet (Missouri Research and Education Network) is among the first five state education networks in the nation admitted to Internet2 under a recent expansion effort and has recently been authorized to open up all routes to the high performance network. This expansion, for the first time, gives Internet2 (I2) access to state and regional network organizations that serve institutions such as elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, museums and libraries.

MOREnet (http://www.more.net) provides Internet connectivity, training and technical support to over Missouri 1,100 sites, including the state's K-12 schools, colleges and universities, libraries, state government and teaching hospitals and clinics. It is part of the University of Missouri System.

Led by over 180 US universities working with industry and government, Internet2 is developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnership of academia, industry and government that helped foster today's Internet in its infancy. (http://www.internet2.edu/)

UM exec named to leadership position

Bill Mitchell, Associate Vice President for Telecommunications at the University of Missouri System and Executive Director of MOREnet, has been named one of two representatives for Internet2 as it explores extending high-performance networking throughout the education community. The other representative named is Louis Fox, Vice Provost for Educational Partnerships and Learning Technologies at the University of Washington.

Mitchell and Fox will explore opportunities to extend advanced Internet capabilities beyond higher education. Their commitment to Internet2 is on a part-time basis and both will continue to serve in their current roles at their respective institutions.

"Access to a nationwide high-performance network is a first step," said Douglas Van Houweling, president and CEO of Internet2. "Our interest lies also in exploring ways to leverage the unique and powerful possibilities advanced networking holds for all of education, and Bill and Louis will provide energy and expertise to make this happen."

This move firmly places the state, the University of Missouri System and MOREnet in a highly visible national leadership role. "It's exciting and I'm looking forward to this opportunity, but don't think this means I'm leaving the university or MOREnet," Mitchell said. "Two years ago this wouldn't have been possible, but MOREnet has a great team in place and we will continue to operate effectively and serve our customers efficiently."

"Those of us who have been at MOREnet a while have long been aware of Bill Mitchell's organizational talents and ability to motivate. It will be interesting to watch him apply his collaborative style at the national level. Internet2 is getting more than they bargained for and they will be pleasantly surprised," said Ben Colley, MOREnet's Director of Strategic Technologies.

Bill Mitchell led the effort to create MOREnet — Missouri's first collaborative information technology initiative. Mitchell is a past Chair of FARNET (the Federation of American Research Networks), and has served on the board of directors of the Seminars on Academic Computing and as the University of Missouri Educom Institutional Representative. Mitchell is currently the Internet2 Representative for the University of Missouri System and a member of Net@EDU. He was recently recognized for his contribution to the library community by being named to the American Library Association's National Advocacy Honor Roll.