Robert F. Olin is dean of The University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences, UA’s largest division with 428 faculty, 7,700 students, and an annual budget of over $75 million. He joined the College in 2000 after serving 25 years on the faculty of Virginia Tech. Olin is known nationally for his innovations in educational technology. He has served on numerous national councils for the advancement of educational technology and is the recipient of the national 2002 Virginia B. Smith Innovative Leadership Award..Under his leadership, UA’s College of Arts and Sciences has launched initiatives in educational technology, undergraduate learning communities, international programs for undergraduates, undergraduate research and creative activity, and faculty/staff diversity.A goal of Olin’s administration has been to elevate the regional and national profile of the College’s fine humanities and fine arts programs. Most recently, he was successful in obtaining the gift of the $5 million Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art for the University, one of the largest and most representative collections of African American art in the world and, in 2011, opening the Paul R. Jones Gallery of Art in downtown Tuscaloosa, designed to share the Jones Collection with Alabama’s citizenry with year-round public exhibitions from the collection.During Olin’s tenure as dean, research contract and grant activity has grown from $12 million to $23 million and the College ranks first in total research awards at the University. Olin is the author of numerous scholarly papers in the fields of operator theory and functional analysis, and he has had over 20 years of continuous research funding. He received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1970 from Ottawa University in Kansas and a doctorate in mathematics in 1975 from Indiana University in Bloomington. He has been selected as an Outstanding Alumnus at both institutions.