Daniel E. Atkins is a Professor in the School of Information and in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan (UM), Ann Arbor. Beginning September 2008 he will become the W. K. Kellogg Professor of Community Informatics. Effective September 1, 2008 he also accepted a part-time position at the Associate Vice-President for Research Cyberinfrastructure at the University of Michigan. From June 2006 to June 2008 he was on leave from the university  to serve at the National Science Foundation as the inaugural Director of the Office of Cyberinfrastructure (http://nsf.gov/oci/)   

He began his research career in the area of computer architecture and did pioneering work in parallel computer architecture and high-speed computer arithmetic that is widely used in modern processor chips. He has served as Dean of the College of Engineering and  as the founding Dean of the School of Information at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The School has been a catalyst for creating an international Information School (I-school) movement. He was founding Director of the Alliance for Community Technology (ACT) an international partnership with philanthropy for research and development in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to further the mission of educational and other non-profit organizations.

Dr. Atkins does research and teaching in the area of distributed knowledge communities and open learning resources.  He has directed several large experimental digital library projects as well as projects to explore the socio-technical design and application of “collaboratories” for scientific research.  He served as Chair of the National Science Foundation Advisory Panel on Cyberinfrastructure. The Panel issued a landmark report in February 2003 recommending a major Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Program intended to revolutionize science and engineering research and education. The report has catalyzed new priorities and the new Office of Cyberinfrastructure at the NSF.

Atkins also serves regularly on panels of the National Academies exploring issues such as scholarship in the digital age, the future of scholarly communication, and the impact of information technology on the future of higher education. He is co-author of Higher Education in the Digital Age: Technology Issues and Strategies for American Colleges and Universities. He has served as an international consultant to industry, foundations, educational institutions, and government. His recent report, A Review of the Open Educational Resources (OER) Movement; Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities, with J. S. Brown and A. L. Hammond is now helping to shape international investment in the next phase of the open courseware movement.

Atkins was the 2008 winner of the Paul Evan Peters Award from the Coalition of Networked Information, Association of Research Libraries, and EDUCAUSE.  The award recognizes notable, lasting achievements in the creation and innovative use of information resources and services that advance scholarship and intellectual productivity through communication networks. Previous award recipients include Paul Ginsparg (2006), Brewster Kahle (2004), Vinton Cerf (2002), and Tim Berners-Lee (2000).

In May 2009 he was recognized with a University of Illinois College of Engineering  Distinguished Alumni Award  for his influence on high-performance computer architecture, pioneering work in the development of schools of information, and leadership in improving the U.S. cyberinfrastructure.