INDUSTRY

The Illinois Center for Computing in Humanities, Arts, and Social Science (I-CHASS) has named Kevin D. Franklin its new executive director. Franklin is known for his major contributions at the interface of high-performance computing and the humanities, arts, and social sciences (HASS) with his research focused on grid computing, distributed knowledge systems, and virtual collaborative research environments. I-CHASS, a national collaboratory based at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, fosters innovation by engaging humanists, artists, and social scientists in collaboration with colleagues in computer science, engineering, and high-performance computing and communications. Starting in August, Franklin will be responsible for day-to-day operations of I-CHASS, supporting director Vernon Burton. Franklin also will be a senior research scientist at NCSA and will hold an academic appointment in the University's College of Education. "Kevin Franklin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to I-CHASS that will accelerate collaborations among the communities of science, engineering, humanities, arts, and social sciences," said NCSA Director Thom Dunning. "His diverse contributions speak for themselves, and we look forward to expanding the opportunities and accomplishments of this nexus of research with his leadership." "Dr. Franklin arrives at a time when the tremendous value of computing is being recognized across disciplinary boundaries. He is committed to the democratization of education and his expertise is valuable to I-CHASS and to the University of Illinois," said Burton. "In his most recent role as executive director for the system-wide University of California Humanities Research Institute, Dr. Franklin led the institute's humanities computing efforts, and he is a founding member and a driving force behind the Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory, a significant collaborative development in the HASS technology community." As chief architect for the Humanities, Arts and Social Science Grid, Franklin oversaw the design and development of a grid computing system that is being widely deployed across the University of California system; he also served on the University of California HASS Technology Council. Franklin is the co-chair for the HASS Research Group for the Open Grid Forum, is a member of the Worldwide University Network Grid Advisory Board, and is the founder of the Cyberinfrastructure Summer Institute for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the Latin American Grid Alliance. Franklin brings to the I-CHASS position a long history of academic and computing experience. He was previously a deputy director for the San Diego Supercomputer Center, a senior fellow for the San Francisco Urban Institute, and founding director for the Multicultural Alliance, a national fellowship program that annually recruited and supported 2,000 teachers of color. For his leadership in education, in 1996 Franklin received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Old Dominion University and in 1997 the Ester A. and Joseph Kingenstein Center Leadership Award from Columbia University Teachers College. Franklin is an advisor to the Costa Rica United States Foundation and the Costa Rica Center for High Technology. He has served on numerous education, foundation, and non-profit boards including the California State Advisory Board for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Franklin received his doctoral degree in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco, and his master's degree in education and bachelor's degree in psychology from Old Dominion University.