FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Dennis W. Brewer will become interim director of Information Technology Services on July 1, serving until a permanent appointment can be made late this summer or in early fall. Brewer is an experienced administrator and currently serves as associate vice provost for research and economic development and director of the office of research and sponsored programs.

“Dennis is a great fit for this position because he knows the campus, knows the academic side, and has worked well with ITS on multiple projects over the years. For example, he was a co-principal investigator with ITS Associate Director Craig Brown on the original grant that connected the campus to what is now the Internet,” said Donald O. Pederson, vice chancellor for finance and administration. “I look forward to his leadership and the continuation of the tremendous progress the campus is making in the use of technology in the teaching and research programs of the university as well as in the improvements to its enterprise systems.”

Brewer is also a professor of mathematics and chaired the department of computer science until it was combined with the department of computer engineering in 1999. He was heavily involved in combining the two departments.

“It’s an honor to be picked for this interim role,” Brewer said. “My first priority will be working with an experienced team of ITS associate directors to develop plans and objectives for fiscal year 2013. We need to continue to meet our mission-critical responsibilities while preparing for a smooth transition to a new permanent director.”

As a part of a reorganizing effort for ITS, Brewer and his eventual replacement will now report to both the provost and the vice chancellor for finance and administration.

During his time at the University of Arkansas, Brewer has had visiting appointments at the Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics (Virginia Tech University), NASA Langley Research Center, and the National Center for Toxicological Research. He has received grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He has also served as a review panelist for the NSF and the U.S. Department of Education. He holds a doctoral degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a bachelor’s degree from Sterling College in Kansas.

Brewer will be assuming the duties of Robert E. Zimmerman, associate vice chancellor for information technology services, who is retiring after 25 years with the university. During that time, Zimmerman guided the university through a period of revolutionary technological change and into the digital realm of the 21^st century.

Information Technology Services provides computing, network facilities and services in support of instruction, research and administration of the University of Arkansas' students, faculty and staff.