Topic: College of Communication Information and Media
August 1, 2007
Ball State has named a nationally recognized researcher in wireless technologies and communication convergence to head its
Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS).
Stephan Jones, a CICS faculty member since 1998, will be the new director of the center, one of the few interdisciplinary graduate programs in the nation that combines theory and hands-on learning opportunities in diagnosing information and communication problems. The appointment is effective Sept. 1.
"Professor Jones has had a long and distinguished career, which makes him uniquely suited to direct the CICS program," said Roger Lavery, dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media. "In addition to his professional specializations in wireless technologies and communication convergence, he is at the top of his field in technology education. We believe he will be able to build upon CICS' reputation for bringing the latest technologies into the classroom and in our immersive learning initiatives for the next generation of technologists."
Jones succeeds Ray Steele, founding director of CICS who will step down from the position to become the center's first distinguished professor.
"I see this as an exciting opportunity to build upon the previous 21 years of success," Jones said. "The information and communication technology industry (ICT) has rebounded from the dot-com bust and is gearing up for another incredible run on changing the way we use technology; and I believe CICS and Ball State will play an integral role in educating students in these fields in the coming years."
Through his work as director of CICS Institute for Wireless Innovation and co-director of the Applied Research Institute at Ball State, Jones has developed strong immersive learning opportunities, allowing graduate students to develop their skills at area nonprofit agencies in dire need of updated communication technologies and with for profit organizations within the ICT industry.
He has been honored numerous times for his research, teaching and community work, including the President's Award from the Delaware County Coalition on Human Resources in 2005 for assisting with technology projects for local nonprofit agencies; the CCIM Dean's Core Competency Award in 2000, 2003 and 2004; and a TechPoint Mira Bridge Builder Award in 2004 for assisting Delaware County nonprofits improve access to information technology.
Jones previously had worked from 1995-98 at Bowling Green State University as assistant to the dean for distance learning in the Department of Continuing Education, International and Summer programs, and from 1979 to 1995 as the owner and engineer of commercial telecommunications company.
He received an associate's degree from the University of Toledo, a bachelor's degree from Alma (Mich.) College and his master's and doctorate from Bowling Green State University.
By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist