Tuesday, June 18, 2002

WILMINGTON, NC – Dr. Ron Vetter, chair of UNC Wilmington’s Department of Computer Science, is the 2002 Association for Computing Machinery Outstanding Distinguished Lecturer of the Year.

One of several dozen top computing professionals selected by ACM as a distinguished lecturer, Vetter traveled throughout the U.S. and Mexico giving presentations at numerous colleges and universities including Ohio’s Miami University, Western Kentucky University and the University of Central Florida. He lectured on using wireless networks, mobile computing and pocket computers in teaching and learning. He also spoke about emerging Web technologies and the current and future prospects for online courses. The talk about online courses, which he presented at the Instituto Tecnologico de La Laguna at Torreon in Mexico, was among his favorites.

“I spent four days there with students,” said Vetter. “Some traveled 20 miles or more by bicycle for my talk; I was so impressed with their interest in learning. They clearly recognize that their futures depend upon getting a good education.”

Vetter holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in computer science from North Dakota State University; his Ph.D. is from the University of Minnesota. He began his teaching career at UNCW in 1993. Following stints at Moorhead State University and North Dakota State University, Vetter rejoined UNCW in 1996.

Founded in 1947, the ACM is the world’s oldest and largest educational and scientific computing society. It has more than 75,000 members worldwide. Its Distinguished Lecturer Program is one of the premier technology outreach programs in the computing industry. Lecturers are selected annually on the basis of competitive peer review and give talks to more than 100 ACM chapters and regional magnet events.

For more information, contact Dr. Vetter at 910/962-7192.