Cort Buffington, Lawrence, has been appointed executive director of KanREN Inc., a nonprofit consortium of colleges, universities, school districts and other organizations that enables the members to improve communication and gain Internet connectivity through a statewide network.

Buffington had been serving as the consortium’s interim executive director since January.

He served KanREN and the state and regional educational networking community for more than 10 years, after receiving a degree in engineering technology from Pittsburg State University in 1994.

KanREN, based in Lawrence, has been serving the state’s research, education and networking technology needs since 1994.