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News Release

Last modified: Thursday, May 29, 2008

Indiana University School of Informatics appoints assistant dean of diversity and education

National figure in diversity and educational innovation to spearhead efforts at Informatics.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University School of Informatics has announced that Maureen Biggers will be joining the school as the assistant dean for diversity and education, effective Aug. 1.

Biggers comes to IU from the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, where she has held the positions of assistant dean for diversity and community, and most recently, director of the Diversity Research Lab. She has extensive experience in research and programs related to the inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in computing, as well as in student services.

She also works extensively on a national level, and currently serves as project manager for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Broadening Participation in Computing Alliance for the Advancement of African-American Researchers in Computing, and as a member of the leadership team for the National Center for Women & Information Technology. She will continue to be involved in these endeavors at IU.

Prior to joining Georgia Tech's College of Computing, Biggers served in various academic administrative and student-focused roles at several well-known universities, including Mercer University and the University of Miami (Fla.). She holds her bachelor's degree from SUNY Geneseo and her master's and Ph.D. from the University of Miami.

As the assistant dean of diversity and education, a position that was one of the key recommendations of the School of Informatics' newly adopted strategic plan, Biggers will focus on increasing the participation and success of women and underrepresented minorities in the school at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty and staff levels. In addition, she will help develop educational innovations within the school.

"Maureen brings deep perspectives and extensive experience in the highly interrelated areas of diversity and educational innovation that will greatly aid the School of Informatics in attaining its goals in these areas," said Informatics Dean Bobby Schnabel. "We already have a fairly diverse student body, but can do so much more to broaden the appeal of informatics and computing education and the participation of all groups. The School of Informatics hopes to become a national exemplar in the areas of diversity and educational innovation, and Maureen is the ideal person to help lead that effort."

"The far-reaching scope of the School of Informatics affords incredible opportunities for action research and educational innovation," said Biggers. "I look forward to working with faculty, students and other partners to ensure that together, we become a national exemplar for the ways we address challenges relating to underrepresented talent in computing and IT."

The Indiana University School of Informatics covers a broad range of computing and information technology, from science and technology to applications and societal implications. Located on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses, the school offers six undergraduate degree programs, six master's degree programs and two Ph.D. programs. It includes faculty in the Department of Informatics, and, in Bloomington, in the Department of Computer Science.

The faculty and students are involved in a wide range of research, including complex systems; data, information and search; human computer interaction/design; high performance computing/e-science; life sciences; technology for values; and trust and privacy in cybersecurity. The school is dedicated to excellence in education and research, to partnerships that bolster economic development and entrepreneurship, and to opportunities for women and minorities in computing and technology.

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