UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 12, Page 1
November 16, 1995
Susan J. Foster receives major technology award

     Susan J. Foster, vice president for information technologies, was
among seven recipients nationally of an award for Achievement in
Management Information Technology from the American Management Systems
(AMS) and Carnegie Mellon University's Graduate School of Industrial
Administration (GSIA).
     The presentation took place Nov. 14 in a ceremony at the Four
Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.
     Foster was recognized for spearheading development of a unified
information system encompassing administrative, academic and
telecommunications services and creating the UD's campus-wide network
to support voice, data and video for teaching and administrative
purposes.
     "We are honoring executives who have achieved measurable results
by merging the vision of information technology with the strategic
goals of their organization," Charles O. Rossotti, chairman of AMS,
said at the ceremony. "Tonight's awards recipients, representing both
the public and private sectors, are testimony to the growing
contribution of information technology to society."
     Paul P. Christiano, provost and acting dean of Carnegie Mellon
University's GSIA, said, "These leaders in business, government and
education have not only developed a technology vision but have
delivered significant accomplishments to their organizations."
     Regarding the recognition, Foster said, "I am very pleased to
receive this award and very proud of the achievement it recognizes.
The University of Delaware is a receptive and supportive environment.
We have, and continue to grow, an information technologies
infrastructure that enables and supports excellence at the
University."
     This year's gold winners included representatives of Fidelity
Investments, Intermountain Health Care, Quintiles Transnational Corp.
and State Street Bank and Trust Company. In addition to Foster, other
silver winners represented Brigham and Women's Hospital, NASA and the
Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Resources.
     The 72 individuals nominated- from service and manufacturing
firms, federal, state and local government agencies, colleges and
universities and health care entities- were judged on achievement,
leadership roles and the measurable impact of their work on their
organizations and professions. The panel of eight judges included
senior information technology executives, as well as AMS and GSIA
executives.
     When the nominees were reduced to the top finalists, researchers
contacted each nominator to elaborate on the nominee's accomplishments
and submit supporting materials, such as written or published
descriptions of the achievement.
     Where possible, researchers conducted on-site visits.
     Before coming to the University, Foster was director of the
Office of Computing and Information Services at Temple University.
From 1989-1993 she was associate vice president of Computing and
Network Services at UD. In 1994, she was promoted to vice president
for information technologies.
     In her present role, Foster is a member of the president's senior
staff and is responsible for planning, policy, budget, acquisition and
implementation of instructional, research and administrative
telecommunications services.
     "The University," Foster said, "is now at a point where faculty,
staff and students can use information technologies for the vast array
of work they do. Our technologies are flexible, robust and far
reaching. They are used creatively, and await the creativity of
others. These technologies already enable the University to share its
library and other resources with Delaware schools and libraries, as
well as individuals and organizations across the state. We look
forward to the growth of these capabilities to share even more, and
more broadly."
     AMS is a business and information technology consulting firm
headquartered in Fairfax, Va. It provides a full range of services
from business engineering to systems development and implementation.
     GSIA is the business school of Carnegie Mellon University in
Pittsburgh. The school has pioneered educating future managers in the
use of computer/communication technology.
     In 1994, the University received the CAUSE Award for Excellence
in Campus Networking and is the 1995 recipient of the CAUSE Award for
Best Practices in Service.
                                                         -Ed Okonowicz