When M. Lewis Temares arrived at the University of Miami in 1980 as assistant vice president for computing, the Apple II Plus—with its impressive 48K memory—was beginning to put personal computing on the map. The IBM PC wasn’t even born yet.

Thirty years and several gigs of memory later, Temares has announced his retirement from the University of Miami following a distinguished career as vice president for information technology and chief information officer, and dean of the College of Engineering.

Information Technology has been and continues to be one of the most rapidly evolving departments in the University, encompassing academic and administrative computing, voice and data communications, strategic planning support, and professional training programs. Temares has spearheaded all of these duties with award-winning innovation, efficiency, and management aplomb. During his tenure, ComputerWorld magazine selected the department six years in a row as one of the top three “Best Places to Work in IT.”

Over the years, Temares and his team of computer engineers and network specialists maintained an integrated database design while moving rapidly into a Web-based computer environment, including e-business, data warehousing, and personalized Web design. His team also kept the University at the forefront of academic connectivity with participation in consortiums like Internet2/Abilene, Florida LambdaRail, and LA Grid.

“Lew Temares has bled orange and green for 30 years,” says Senior Vice President of Business and Finance Joe Natoli. “Whether dean of the College of Engineering or CIO, Lew followed a consistent formula. He hired good people and nurtured their development. He created an environment where people enjoyed coming to work and knew that they were valued. That formula served Lew and the University well through decades of dynamic change.”

In 1994 the University appointed Temares dean of the College of Engineering. Assuming dual leadership roles, Temares guided the college through a restructuring of its undergraduate curriculum and two successful reaccreditations. He introduced progressive internship programs, established a career development program, and worked with senior University leaders to launch Engineering for the Americas, an education and professional development program between American and Latin American university students. He raised more than $13 million for the college during the Momentum campaign and created the Edward M. Arnold Center for Confluent Media Studies, which features technology used to produce multimedia presentations (including the award-winning One Water documentary) and educate students for this field.

By the time Temares stepped down as dean of the College of Engineering in 2007—becoming the longest-serving dean in the college’s history—its female enrollment had risen to twice the national average; today UM ranks seventh in the nation for graduating women engineers.

“Since day one, Lew placed his finger on the pulse of technology and has seamlessly kept the University ahead of the curve,” says President Donna E. Shalala. “His bold leadership in areas of such critical importance has helped fuel our remarkable climb as an academic powerhouse. He also is a remarkably warm, funny, and very smart leader in our community.”

A graduate of City University of New York with a Ph.D. in business, Temares has earned a long list of professional accolades. He was named CIO of the Year by the South Florida Business Journal, one of ComputerWorld magazine’s Premier 100 IT Leaders in the World, a Top 100 CIO by CIO Magazine, and the first annual Technology Leader of the Year by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the Dell Platinum Advisory Council, Microsoft Higher Education Advisory Council, the White House Y2K Roundtable, and many other advisory boards. He is a member of Iron Arrow and recipient of the UM Alumni Association Inside-Out Award and the UM Women’s Commission May A. Brunson Award for Service.

“The University of Miami is truly representative of the fascinating global community that is the future of our country and our world,” Temares says. “It has been my honor and pleasure to serve and support this diverse and exciting institution. I treasure the memories and friendships I’ve been blessed to have here as I move on to the next phase of life.”

Temares will continue working through August 2010. A search for his successor is under way.