The University Record, March 19, 1996
Regents grant emeritus status to two faculty
Two faculty members were given the emeritus title by the Regents at their March meeting.
Those retiring are Kan Chen, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and of urban, technological and environmental planning, and research scientist; and Donald S. Strachan, professor of dentistry and associate professor of anatomy.
Chen, who joined the faculty in 1971, is “recognized internationally as an expert in the fields of automatic control and systems science and as a leader in applying systems engineering principles to societal problems,” the Regents noted.
“His research interests have ranged from equipment control to integrated plant control, scheduling problems, and problems of industrial management, and from there, to broader systems problems associated with public policy and societal choice. Prof. Chen was actively involved in establishing ties between the U-M and the People’s Republic of China and was named the first director of the Project on United States-China Auto Industry Cooperation in 1986.”
Strachan, who joined the faculty in 1963 as an instructor in the School of Dentistry and as an instructor of anatomy in the Medical School, served as assistant dean of admissions in the School of Dentistry in 1969–89.
“Dr. Strachan has contributed to the teaching mission of both the School of Dentistry and the Medical School through his instruction in human gross anatomy and head and neck anatomy,” the Regents said. “He has also contributed through research in the areas of histochemistry and oral histology and educational research dealing with dental ad mission criteria. He has contributed to the scientific literature through professional journals, as well as through chapters in several textbooks.”
