Thomas A. DeFanti, Co-Director of the Eelectronic Visualization Laboratory, Director of the Software Technologies Research Center, and Professor in the Computer Science Department is named a "UIC Distinguished Professor".

This title was created to recognize and honor faculty at the rank of professor who have made major impact upon their field through scholarship, creativity and leadership. A panel of current UIC Distinguished Professors and University Scholars carefully reviewed the nominations as did the Campus Research Board and the Vice Chancellor for Research to select this year's recipients.

Professor De Fanti is one of the world's authorities on computer graphics and large bandwidth data transmission. His contributions are broad with his work in computer graphics bridging technology and the arts. He played an integral role in the establishment of the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL). In the early '90s, he developed the CAVE virtual reality theater by combining computer graphics with video technologies. The CAVE continues to be at the forefront of VR environments. Professor DeFanti is also a world leader in high-speed computer networks. He is principle investigator of UIC's $15 million NSF STAR TAP and Euro-Link initiatives that make possible the long-term interconnection and interoperability of advanced international networking for research and education. He also serves as chair of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID)'s "Internet2" applications Strategy Council and is a member of the UCAID Board of Trustees, which oversees the operation and development of the Nation's premier research Internet backbone. Dr. Defanti's publication record includes book chapters, journal articles, conference papers, editorial pieces, videotapes, distributed programming languages, and art exhibitions.