in 1982 atkins became associate dean for research and graduate programs for the university of michigan college of engineering, and then dean from 1989-90. he was appointed dean of the university of michigan school of information in 1992. he secured millions in support from the kellogg foundation, [mellon foundation, carnegie foundation, microsoft, intel, and others to help launch the school, and chaired the committee that developed one of the earliest computer engineering undergraduate degree programs. in 1989-90 he formed and directed an alliance for community technology (act) sponsored by the kellogg foundation to support the use of information technology,