The University Record, November 23, 1998
Regents’ Roundup
Editor’s Note: The following actions were taken by the Regents at their November meeting.
Appointments to professorships
Faculty members named to endowed and titled professorships included:
Steven A. Goldstein, professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, professor of biomedical engineering, and professor of surgery, also will hold the Henry Ruppenthal Family Professorship of Orthopaedic Surgery and Graduate Studies, effective Nov. 20.
William G. Rosenberg, professor of history and the Alfred G. Meyer Collegiate Professor of History, also will hold the Richard Hudson Research Professorship of History, effective Jan. 1.
“Dr. Goldstein is a highly productive and internationally renowned scientist and leader in the area of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic science,” said A. Lorris Betz, interim dean of the Medical School. “He founded the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the U-M, which has become recognized as possibly the premier laboratory in the discipline, both nationally and internationally. His investigative contributions have significantly influenced the understanding of bone disorders and their treatment. They have also led to the development of innovative medical implants and therapies that will continue to benefit thousands of patients. In addition, Dr. Goldstein has continuously trained some of the most outstanding young scientists and engineers in this field.”
Rosenberg is “an internationally respected leader in the study of Russian history and in the analysis of the dynamics of revolutions, having reframed the interpretation of the 1917 Russian Revolution,” said Patricia Gurin, LS&A interim dean. “He is the author or co-author of three major monographs, as well as five edited books. During his tenure as the Richard Hudson Research Professor he will concentrate on his book, The Democratic Predicament in Revolutionary Russia: The Role of Labor in the Making of the Soviet System. This study focuses on the nature, forms, and representations of Russian labor activism in the period between 1905 and 1928.”
Four faculty retire
Four University of Michigan faculty members were given the emeritus title. They are Edith S. Gomberg, professor of psychology; Herbert J. Grossman, professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases, professor of pediatrics in neurology and professor of pediatric neurology in psychiatry; Anne B. Hill, associate professor of anesthesiology; and Charles A. Tait, associate professor of education and audiology and associate research scientist.
Gomberg joined the U-M in 1974. “Her research has focused on alcohol use and problems in women and the elderly, and her work both defined and set a standard for the field,” the Regents noted. “She was one of the first investigators to understand that these problems needed to be explored within the larger conceptual structures of gender differences, deviant behavior and adaptation. She played a key role in the establishment of the U-M Alcohol Research Center, whose special focus has been the problems of alcohol use and aging. She is the author of more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, a number of book chapters, and has edited six books.”
Grossman joined the U-M in 1981. “A distinctive focus of Dr. Grossman’s clinical and teaching efforts was to consolidate links between pediatric neurology and child psychiatry,” the Regents said. “His major academic contributions were in the field of mental retardation research. He has contributed many original articles to peer-reviewed journals and has also contributed informative chapters to major textbooks. A nationally recognized authority on predictors of mortality in children with severe developmental disability, he has served as a consultant to a wide range of state and federal agencies.”
Hill joined the U-M in 1971. “From 1973 to 1975, Dr. Hill was chief of the anesthesiology service at the Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Medical Center. In 1976, she completed an eight-month research fellowship at the Royal Post Graduate School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England. In 1990, Dr. Hill took a sabbatical leave and gained additional teaching skills in the clinical and didactic environment focusing on quality assurance issues. She served as director of anesthesia services at the Kellogg Eye Center from 1995 to 1996.”
Tait joined the U-M in 1971. “Within the School of Education, Tait served on the executive committee, research committee, promotion committee and the Human Subject Review Committee, and was assistant dean in 1988–89. At the University level, he served on Rackham’s Dissertation Grant Committee and on the University Grievance Committee. As an undergraduate adviser in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, he enjoyed a reputation for being knowledgeable, helpful, respected, and well-liked. Prof. Tait taught undergraduate courses in speech and language pathology and audiology and graduate courses in auditory assessment of children, experimental hearing science, and research in audiology.”
Renovation projects Ok’d
Proposed upgrading and renovation of instructional and research space in Medical Science Building II and the Buhl Center for Human Genetics Building was approved.
This project will completely update the 19,000-square-foot Buhl Building and physically connect it to the Medical Science II Building. The renovated space will house the administrative functions of the Department of Human Genetics along with their conference and seminar functions, ‘dry’ research space, and research animal housing.
Connections between the Medical Science II and Buhl Building will be increased to allow access on each level to facilitate closer interaction and communication by faculty, staff and students.
Approximately 20,000 square feet of space on the second, third, and fifth floors of the research wing in the Medical Science II will be renovated for instructional and research space, including space that will house the core of the new Center for Organogenesis.
The project is estimated to cost $10.6 million, to be provided by the Medical School.
“This priority project,” noted Robert Kasdin, executive vice president and chief financial officer, “will also continue the Medical School’s program to upgrade the infrastructure of Medical Science II by replacing major building central systems such as electrical substations and utility distribution systems.”
$14.2 million in gifts
The Regents accepted a total of $14,230,471 in gifts received during October. The total included $7,719,166 from individuals, $2,342,358 from corporations, $2,266,424 from foundations, and $1,902,523 from associations and others.
Tenure appointments
The following faculty appointments, with tenure, were approved:
Peretz P. Friedmann, from the University of California, Los Angeles, will be the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Aerospace Engineering and professor of aerospace engineering, effective Jan. 1.
Michael Hortsch, U-M assistant professor of anatomy and cell biology, was promoted to associate professor, with tenure, effective Dec. 1.
Administrative appointments
Administrative appointments approved included:
H. David Humes, the John G. Searle Professor of Internal Medicine and professor of internal medicine, was reappointed chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, effective Jan. 1–Aug. 31, 1999.
Christina L.B. Whitman, professor of law and of women’s studies, was reappointed associate dean for academic affairs of the Law School, effective Jan. 1, 1999–Dec. 31, 2000.
Gary D. Herrin, professor of industrial and operations engineering, will serve as assistant dean for advising and first-year programs at the College of Engineering, effective Jan. 1, 1999–June 30, 2002.
William Gosling, interim director of the University Library, will become director of the University Library, effective Dec. 1, 1998–Nov. 30, 2003.
E. Royster Harper, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, will be senior associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, effective Jan. 1.
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