The 5-year old Renaissance Computing Institute has named a new director to lead the multi-university collaboration to use technology to solve wide-ranging social problems.

Stanley Ahalt, 55, will assume his new role Sept. 28 and will also become a tenured professor at UNC Chapel Hill's computer science department. He comes from Ohio State University's department of electrical and computer engineering, where he taught 22 years, and led the Ohio Super Computer Center for six years.

Forty-one applicants sought the director's seat at RENCI.