The University of Texas at Austin has named Oxford Internet Institute’s Professor Eric Meyer the next dean of its School of Information. His appointment will begin August 1st, and he will hold the Louis T. Yule Regents Professorship in Library and Information Science and the Mary R. Boyvey Chair for Excellence.
As director of graduate studies at the Oxford Internet Institute, Eric has led efforts to develop innovative master’s and doctoral degree programs, enhance recruitment efforts, work closely with faculty members and students to provide exceptional educational experiences, and grow a positive scholarly environment for research, teaching and learning. A long standing faculty member at the OII, he will be missed by staff and students alike.
“I am thrilled and honored to be the next dean of the School of Information at UT Austin,” Eric said. “I think that the school has established itself as a leader globally, and I look forward to building upon the school’s exceptional accomplishments. I’m eager to contribute to the continuing success of this talented community of scholars.”
“In an increasingly interconnected world, we need to understand the intersection of information, people and ever-evolving technologies. The School of Information is widely respected as one of the top information schools in the country, and I am thrilled to welcome Eric Meyer to lead as dean,” said Maurie McInnis, executive vice president and provost at UT Austin. “He is an innovative visionary who brings with him great experience from an exceptional institution, and his success is grounded in working closely with students, faculty and others in order to leverage their collective talents and strengths.”
“Eric Meyer has been an exceptional Director of Graduate Studies and an excellent member of the Oxford Internet Institute, making major contributions to research, teaching and the community,” said Philip N. Howard, Director of the OII. “We shall greatly miss his contribution but wish him well in this new endeavour where, I am sure, he will continue to contribute to our understanding of the digital world.’
Eric earned his undergraduate degree from Ohio University, a master’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and his doctoral degree from Indiana University Bloomington. He has been a member of the OII Faculty for 11 years. His research focuses on the connections between people and the technologies they use, and how people shape and are shaped by new digital technologies. This includes how digital technologies allow people to change the things they research, the ways they learn, and how people share information and collaborate.
Further information can be found on the webpages of the University of Texas.
