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News Release

Last modified: Monday, June 14, 2010

IU's McRobbie receives prestigious Australian award for service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2010

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The government of Australia announced today (June 14) that Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie, a native of that country, has been appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia, a national award signifying "distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large."

Recipients of the award were announced in the "honors list" published June 14, which is the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II of England, who is also the Sovereign of Australia. McRobbie was among 21 Australians to receive the "Officer in the General Division" designation.

The award includes a distinctive blue and gold medal that is worn around the neck for ceremonial occasions, and is signified in print by the initials "AO" after the recipient's name.

The Order of Australia, which was created by Queen Elizabeth in 1975, is one of the highest honors an Australian can receive in recognition of outstanding or meritorious service.

The citation for McRobbie's award reads: "For distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly through administrative roles and to contributions in the field of information technology and in developing international alliances between universities."

McRobbie came to the United States from Australia in 1997 to serve as the university's first vice president of information technology and chief information officer. He later assumed the additional duties of vice president for research. In 2006, he was named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at the Bloomington campus, and in 2007 he was chosen by the IU Board of Trustees to become the university's 18th president.

Prior to coming to IU, McRobbie was a professor and executive director of the Centre for Information Science Research, Institute of Advanced Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra.

At IU, he has initiated cooperative agreements in research and education with leading universities in Australia, China, South Korea, Japan and Israel.

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