January 25, 2012
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Merit Network CEO and President Donald Welch has been named to the Executive Committee of The Quilt Board of Directors. The Quilt is the national coalition of advanced regional networks for research and education, representing 28 networks across the country. The Quilt Executive Committee (QEC) is the primary force which challenges the organization to realize its potential for service and the fulfillment of the Quilt’s mission.
The QEC’s primary responsibilities include positioning the organization to pursue its mission with all established policies and activities undertaken. It assesses the ever-changing conditions, causes, and forces in the external environment. It then helps the organization set priorities based on analysis of the conditions and approves the strategic choices of The Quilt.
This is an elected position, requiring a member to be nominated by another Director to assume a role on the Executive Committee. The Quilt currently has nineteen (19) Directors on its Board and an additional nine (9) Directors serving on the Executive Committee. Don Welch has served as a Director and will serve a 2-year term on the Executive Committee.
“It is an honor to be selected by our peer research and education networks to help lead this important organization at such a critical time. This reflects the high esteem that research and education networks around the nation have for Merit and its community,” said Welch. “The council will consider many important issues, some of which may directly or indirectly impact our organization and Members. This is an important opportunity to serve the research and education network community and represent networking in Michigan.”
Don Welch also serves on the Educause/Internet2 Network Council (EINC), Vice Chair of Internet2’s External Relations Advisory Council (ERAC), Internet2 Council of Officers, Statenets Steering Committee and is a member of the Cyber Security Strategic Committee for the State of Michigan under Governor Snyder.
About Merit Network
Merit Network Inc., is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained at the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
For more information: www.merit.edu
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