AUSTIN, Texas—Dr. Robert Ronstadt is leaving his position as director of the IC2 Institute to shift his focus to research and allocate more time to academic pursuits at IC2, Dr. Juan Sanchez, vice president for research at The University of Texas at Austin, said Wednesday (July 3).
In making the announcement, Sanchez, to whom IC2 reports, said, “Dr. Ronstadt has given four years of dedicated service administering IC2’s programs. He has now expressed a desire to spend more time conducting research in the areas of constructive forms of capitalism and innovation in technology commercialization. I personally look forward to his contributions towards sustaining the reputation for excellence that has characterized IC2 throughout its history.”
Dr. John Sibley Butler, professor of management and sociology and director of the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center at the Red McCombs School of Business, has been selected to serve as interim director of IC2 during the search for a new director. Butler, who just completed a term as chair of the Management Department, holds the Gale Chair in Entrepreneurship and Small Business in the McCombs School of Business and is an IC2 Fellow.
Dr. Alexander Cavalli has been selected to serve as the interim deputy director and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Institute. Cavalli, a physicist with a strong background in technology research and development and technology transfer, co-directs the E-Learning and Training Laboratory (ELT Labs) at IC2 and is director of the EnterTech Project, a Web-based job training program.
“Both Dr. Butler and Dr. Cavalli are uniquely qualified to lead the institute as we begin the task of searching for a permanent director,” said Sanchez. “I am very grateful to them both for their willingness to serve in these leadership positions.”
Butler said, “Having served as an IC2 Fellow for a number of years, I am looking forward to advancing IC2’s ambitious mission established by our founder, Dr. George Kozmetsky 25 years ago – to combine technology, entrepreneurship and education to improve the world through wealth creation and prosperity sharing. This mission is perhaps more relevant in today’s national and international economic environment than ever before.”
Cavalli said, “Working with Dr. Kozmetsky on ELT Labs and the EnterTech project has been an extremely rewarding experience. I appreciate now having the opportunity to work with Dr. Butler to further the additional work of the IC2 Institute and its many programs that help communities and nations to grow and prosper.”
The changes are effective June 30, 2002.
About The IC2 Institute
The IC2 Institute is a strategic center for technology commercialization at The University of Texas at Austin. The IC2 Institute is a prestigious international, multi-disciplinary research and education institute that links technology, entrepreneurship, and education to foster sustainable social and economic development around the world. The institute, founded in 1977 by Dr. George Kozmetsky, former dean of The University of Texas Business School and co-founder of Teledyne, is the home of the Austin Technology Incubator and the founder of The Austin Technology Council and The Capital Network. The IC2 Institute also offers the world-renowned one-year Master’s Degree in Technology Commercialization.
For further information contact: Dr. Juan Sanchez, vice president for research, 512-471-2877.
