Arkansas Research and Optical Education Network Appoints Executive Director

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Michael Abbiatti

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Michael Abbiatti, the associate commissioner of information and learning technology for the Louisiana Board of Regents, has been appointed as executive director of the Arkansas Research and Optical Education Network at the University of Arkansas. He will begin his duties on July 1, 2008.

ARE-ON, a high-speed, fiber-based optical communications network established and operated by a consortium of public four-year universities in Arkansas, is a state entity governed by the presidents and chancellors of participating institutions, in cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

"Integration of technology into education is a learning requirement, not an option," Abbiatti said. "Every citizen of Arkansas deserves this type of learning environment without regard to physical location or socio-economic class. Students come to an academic environment with an expectation that technology will be a core component of the experience, pre-K through adulthood. Any investment we make is an investment in the future of our state."

Abbiatti brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He co-founded and co-created the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative, which was designed as an economic tool empowering research and academic communities to become a more effective economic development resource.

During his time with the Louisiana Board of Regents Abbiatti's responsibilities included policy development, funding strategies, supervision of operational staff and management of complex budgets for a wide variety of technology initiatives. Abbiatti was also Louisiana's initial member of the National LambdaRail board of directors and was responsible for the creation and management of the Louisiana Education and Research Network as a statewide Internet2 resource.

Abbiatti worked on ARE-ON over the past year with Bob Zimmerman, associate vice chancellor for university IT services, helping to structure the organization based on the Louisiana model.

"I have long respected the researchers, teaching faculty and entire higher education community in Arkansas," Abbiatti said. "These professionals, and the associated intellectual capital, are scattered across the state in technical colleges, community colleges, research institutions, etc. Their contributions range from changing individual lives to providing new knowledge and models on a global scale. My vision is based in the core desire to see what happens when we empower each one of these people with unlimited bandwidth, unlimited computing power, and a collaborative environment second to none, and ARE-ON will make it happen!

"The tremendous work done by Dr. Bob Zimmerman and David Merrifield to prepare ARE-ON is the most effective and the most broad-based support I have seen nationwide in the area of high-speed networking and high-performance computing."

David Merrifield was appointed as the ARE-ON chief technology officer with the support of the ARE-ON steering committee. Bob Zimmerman, who served as ARE-ON executive director in its initial phase, worked with the steering committee to find suitable candidates for a full-time director. Abbiatti was selected by the steering committee, with confirmation by the presidents and chancellors of ARE-ON member universities.

"Mike Abbiatti is the right person at the right time,” said Zimmerman. “I welcome him and look forward to working closely with him. His extensive experience in higher education, technology and research will undoubtedly lend itself to the successful development of ARE-ON, putting the current members of ARE-ON on the cutting edge of the latest in technology, research and education.”

Abbiatti was born in Arkansas and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Arkansas. His personal ties to the state and the university go even deeper.

"I received my commission in the U.S. Army at the University of Arkansas, and was thrilled to return to swear my son in as an Army officer at the same place I was sworn in," he said. "I am a Desert Storm veteran and my son recently returned from Afghanistan."

Abbiatti received his education specialist degree at Northwestern State University and has done extensive post-graduate work, including a certification in technical administration of complex teaching/learning initiatives. He is also a graduate of the EDUCAUSE Information Technology Leadership Institute and the WCET management of distance education program, both basic and advanced. He also attended Louisiana State University Health Science Center Graduate School, Centenary College, the U.S. Army Medical Field Service School, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

He is looking forward to returning to Arkansas.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to repay the kindness that the citizens of Arkansas invested in me many years ago as a student," Abbiatti said. "My family and I are excited about coming home and being able to contribute to the future prosperity in Arkansas.”