See original article by Sara Aly here.
Bill Mitchell, Executive Director of the Great Plains Networks, was awarded Internet2’s Richard Rose award at Internet2’s Global Summit in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2017. Congratulations, Bill!
The award honors K-20 educators or technologists who have made demonstrable impacts on the K-20 community by extending advanced networking, content and services to the broader education community.
Mitchell currently serves as executive director of the Great Plains Network (GPN). In this role, he directs the business of the consortium, including strategic and tactical planning, business and financial management. Mitchell is also responsible for technical leadership in advanced networking initiatives, both within GPN and at the national level.
Prior to his current role, Mitchell founded and served for almost 20 years as executive director of the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet), Missouri’s first collaborative information technology initiative and one of the nation’s first and largest research and education networks supporting K-12 schools, higher education institutions, public libraries, state and local government, health care and other non-profits. He was responsible for the initial planning, funding and implementation of MOREnet, a department within the University of Missouri System, which currently supports more than 730 members throughout the state.
“For nearly three decades, Bill has inspired educators, leaders, researchers and government representatives to identify their common goals, to leverage their individual strengths and to drive teaching and learning improvements,” said Dr. Gary Allen, Vice President for Information Technology at the University of Missouri. “His enthusiasm and contributions have had a profound impact on the advancement of education and lifelong learning for Missourians and the entire K-20 community.”
The Rose Award is named in honor of Richard Rose (1947-2007), who was an early leader in the national Internet2 K-20 Initiative. Rose was executive director of the University of Maryland Academic Telecommunications System and the University System of Maryland Office of Information Technology. He was an indefatigable advocate for extending the Internet2 Network to students at all levels—in both formal and information education—in the U.S. to broaden and deepen opportunities in learning, scholarship and science. The Rose Award is given annually based on criteria such as commitment to the K-20 mission, recognized innovation in the community and leadership and mentoring qualities.