The University Record, November 19, 1996
Four faculty named to distinguished professorships
Four University of Michigan faculty members were named to distinguished professorships by the U-M Regents at their Nov. 14-15 meeting.
Walter J. Loesche, professor of dentistry in the School of Dentistry and professor of microbiology in the Medical School, will hold the Marcus L. Ward Professorship of Dentistry in the School of Dentistry.
David J. Srolovitz, professor of materials science and engineering at the College of Engineering, will hold the Edward D. Campbell Professorship of Materials Science and Engineering.
Donald R. Kinder, professor of political science and of psychology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), will hold the Philip E. Converse Collegiate Professorship of Political Science.
Mark B. Orringer, professor of surgery at the Medical School, will hold the John Alexander Distinguished Professorship of Thoracic Surgery.
“Prof. Loesche’s contributions to the School, to teaching, and to research have been outstanding,” said William E. Kotowicz, acting dean of the School of Dentistry. “His primary focus of research and teaching is microbiology. Most recently, Dr. Loesche has applied his research expertise to the aging population.
“He was a member of the Biomedical Research Council in 1979-82, has served on several editorial boards in his field, and served as president of the American Association for Dental Research in 1987-88. He has been generous with his ideas, time and resources and has inspired the successful development of both students and faculty colleagues.” Loesche has been a U-M faculty member since 1974.
Srolovitz, who joined the U-M faculty in 1987, “has introduced new undergraduate and graduate courses into the Materials Science and Engineering program and is a productive researcher,” said Stephen W. Director, dean of the College of Engineering.
“His collaboration on a large range of topics spans the gap between materials science and applied physics. His work has had considerable impact on current thinking regarding the structure of interfaces and grain growth kinetics. Prof. Srolovitz is a leader in the field of computer simulation of problems in materials science, his work being of interest to physicists as well as materials scientists.”
Kinder, who joined the U-M faculty in 1981, “has written widely on politics and democracy in the contemporary United States,” said Edie N. Goldenberg, LSA dean. “His major works include News that Matters, an examination of how network news programs influence American public opinion, and Divided by Color: Racial Politics and Democratic Ideals.
“Divided by Color presents a framework for understanding public opinion—in general and on matters of race—among Black and white Americans. It illuminates how issues of race become insinuated into political campaigns and argues that the quality and vitality of our politics depend mightily on decisions made by those who run for public office.”
Orringer, who joined the U-M faculty in 1973, “has established an impressive record of academic and professional accomplishments,” said A. Lorris Betz, interim dean of the Medical School.
“As one of the country’s recognized leaders in the field of general thoracic surgery, Dr. Orringer has focused much of his academic and professional career on the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant esophageal disease. His leadership role in American thoracic surgical residency education is nationally recognized as a result of his publications on this subject, his role as a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery during 1988-95, his position as secretary/treasurer of the Thoracic Surgery Director’s Association, and now president-elect of that organization.”
