1:15 p.m., May 2, 2008--Susan Foster, University of Delaware vice president for Information Technologies since 1993, who helped lead a computing revolution on campus, will retire June 30.

Carl Jacobson, who joined IT-Management Information Systems in 1976 and now directs the unit, will serve as interim vice president for information technologies, UD Executive Vice President Scott Douglass announced Friday.

“Susan Foster has done an outstanding job leading the University through a period in which change moved quickly in the field of information technologies,” Douglass said. “Likewise, Carl Jacobson has helped keep the University of Delaware in the forefront, and I have every confidence that he will do an outstanding job as interim vice president.”

Foster joined the UD staff in 1989 as associate vice president for computing and network services and was promoted to vice president for information technologies in 1993.

She helped the University take a leadership role in the use of technology, spearheading development of a unified campus information system encompassing administrative, academic and telecommunications services.

In 1994, UD was hailed as a model for campus computing and received the CAUSE Award for Excellence in Campus Networking and in 1995 Foster received an award for achievement in managing information technology from the American Management Systems and Carnegie Mellon University's Graduate School of Industrial Administration. CAUSE, which later became EDUCAUSE, is a national association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology

Foster, who directed Temple University's computing and information services functions before coming to Delaware, holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in psychoeducational processes, both from Temple.

Jacobson earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from UD in 1973 and joined IT-Management Information Systems, of which he is now director, in 1976.

In 2001, Jacobson received the prestigious Leadership in Information Technology Award from EDUCAUSE. He was hailed as a pioneer in the use of the web to provide access to institutional administrative information resources and for his work to enable students, faculty and staff to conduct University business online.