January 2, 2002

SMU NAMES NEW ACADEMIC COMPUTING DIRECTOR

DALLAS (SMU) -- SMU’s Information Technology Services has named JoAnn Lan as the new director of ITS’s Academic Computing to facilitate the integration of technology in teaching and research. Lan also will be an associate professor in educational technology and teach courses in SMU’s Center for Teacher Education.

In announcing the appointment, George Chrisman, associate vice president for ITS, said, “We look forward to having someone of Dr. Lan’s experience directing Academic Computing and sharing her up-to-date knowledge about instructional hardware and software across the disciplines.”

Lan, who will join ITS in late January, is currently the Director of Academic Computing and Technology and an associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lan was responsible for the planning, development and directing of the technology curriculum programs within the School of Education.

Lan has conducted research and published in the field of educational technology and has been active in leadership activities in the area of educational technology at the state, national, and international levels. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Technology in Education, the National Advisory Board of PBS TeacherLine, and the National Technology Leadership Initiative of the U.S. Department of Education.

Lan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Inner Mongolia Teacher's University, China, in 1976; a Master of Arts degree in adult and continuing education from Northern Illinois University in 1989; and an Ed.D. in instructional technology from Northern Illinois University in 1993.