Editor’s Note: A list of those promoted and/or granted tenure appears on page 11.
Described as “one of the most important things we undertake at the Univer-sity,” Provost Gilbert R. Whitaker Jr. last Friday recommended 153 individuals on the University’s three campuses for promotion and/or tenure.
“We do the promotion and tenure process as seriously as we possibly can because the intellectual quality of the Uni-versity is at stake. The decisions we make will affect the reputation and the future direction of the University for many years to come.”
Commenting on the number of women and people of color included in the recommendations, the provost said “there is significant improvement in the promotion of women. We are making headway.”
With respect to promotions and awarding of tenure to minorities, he said the numbers “are up a bit, but not as much as hoped for. Our strategies, however, are beginning to pay off.”
“Clearly the efforts of our deans and faculty to recruit and retain faculty of color and women are beginning to pay off. We are pleased to be able to recommend so many excellent teachers and scholars for the associate and full professor ranks.”
Whitaker explained the review process that is followed in recommending faculty for promotion and tenure, noting that the definitions of three criteria—teaching; research, scholarly or creative activity; and service—“are defined by the faculties of the individual schools and colleges.”
“Faculty are expected to excel in both teaching and research or creative activity as evidenced by their curricula vitae and by letters from authorities in the field who are qualified to judge the impact of their work. Evaluations of teaching form part of the case as well.”
Whitaker told the Regents that in cases in which female or minority candidates are turned down, “written statements, comparing the qualifications of each woman and person of color and indicating where individuals failed to meet the criteria, are forwarded to the Affirmative Action Office for review.”
In presenting recommendations for promotion and awarding of tenure to the Regents last Friday, Whitaker shared with them “a few individuals who were especially strong this year, to give you a sense of the quality of the faculty of this University. In my judgment, the Regents can be justly proud of these and all the other faculty recommended for promotion and tenure this year.” His comments are excerpted here.
Louise K. Stein, musicology, promoted to associate professor with tenure
“As a teacher and mentor, Prof. Stein is passionately committed to the process of learning and exhibits splendid seriousness of purpose and depth. An accomplished musician who is proficient in eight languages, her scholarly work is elegant and provocative.”
Jane E. Dutton, organizational behavior, promoted to professor
“Prof. Dutton has become a central intellectual figure in the field of organizational behavior, partly because of the creativity and insight of her work and partly because she plays such an active role in the profession. Moreover, she is highly sought after as a teacher and mentor, having served on 10 dissertation committees in the last three years.”
Robert E. Megginson, mathematics, promoted to associate professor with tenure
“Prof. Megginson’s promotion is based largely on his contributions to the development and improvement of the educational program of the Department of Mathematics, which constitute the major reason he was hired. He is a devoted teacher of graduate students as well as introductory students, and his scholarly work has contributed significantly to the field of Banach space theory.”
Donald R. Zak, natural resources and environment, promoted to associate professor with tenure
“Prof. Zak, though only seven years into his career, is already recognized around the world as a leading scientific researcher into essential questions about global change. He is highly knowledgeable in at least three different but related fields: microbiology, plant physiology and ecology. … In addition, he has a singular ability to engage undergraduates by making his science intelligible, interesting and fun.”
Sharon E. Sutton, architecture and urban planning, promoted to professor
“Prof. Sutton has become an acknowledged leader in the field of architectural education and a highly respected contributor to the dialogue on future directions in the architectural and planning professions and the educational programs that support them. She is a brilliant advocate for the position that the quality of life experienced by individuals and communities is greatly affected by the quality of their physical environment.”
