Regents approve new Master of Urban Technology degree program at Taubman
The A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning will offer a new Master of Urban Technology degree program that would address the growing field in which people use data and technology to make cities work better for people and the planet. After regent approval, this new one-year degree program will launch in fall 2027 and equip students with the systems and business models to improve housing, water, mobility, and other urban systems. It will employ technology to grow student agency, build entrepreneurial sensibility, and create impactful solutions. The proposed degree received approval by the governing faculty at Taubman College in February 2026.
Plan approved to expand land leased to Ronald McDonald House
A plan to expand the land leased to the Ronald McDonald House was approved by the Board of Regents. Under the plan, a 1.15 acre parcel of property located on the west side of the building at 1600 Washington Heights will be leased to Arbor House Inc. for an expansion project. The lease for the current property will also be extended. Both leases are for a term of 45 years at no cost. The Ronald McDonald House expansion aims to enhance the facility’s capacity, broaden the services it offers, and further advance its mission of supporting families during their child’s medical care. The Ronald McDonald House supports families of seriously ill or injured children who are being treated in Washtenaw County. Its core mission is to help families stay close together and focus on their child’s care when treatment requires travel far from home.
Regents approve plans to renovate Palmer Commons second and third floors
Plans to renovate the second and third floors of Palmer Commons were approved by the Board of Regents. The project calls for renovation and upgrading approximately 22,000 gross square feet, supporting the expansion of instructional and program space. The project will add new classrooms, huddle rooms, a student lounge, a single occupant restroom, audio visual equipment, and new furniture. The new classrooms are intended for multiple users across North and Central Campus schools and colleges and will provide centrally scheduled, flexible instructional space designed to support multidisciplinary teaching and expand access to arts and creative coursework in new areas of campus. Construction on the $10 million project will begin this summer and is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2027. Funding will be provided from the Office of the Provost resources. There will be no impact on parking from this project.
Ann Arbor campus
Faculty appointments with tenure
Gregory T. Collins, associate professor of pharmacology, Medical School, March 1, 2026.
Amy J. Jak, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Medical School, April 1, 2026.
Maor Sauler, associate professor of internal medicine, Medical School, March 1, 2026.
Named professorships
John C. Byrn, Cyrenus G. Darling, Sr., M.D. and Cyrenus G. Darling, Jr., M.D. Professor of Surgery, Medical School, March 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2030.
Kevin Chen, Andrea Fischer Newman and Frank Newman Research Professor of Neurosurgery, Medical School, March 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2030.
*Brian T. Denton, Stephen M. Pollock Collegiate Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering, College of Engineering, March 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2031.
Pamela Jagger, Samuel Trask Dana Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability, March 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2031.
*Lenette M. Jones, Nancy S. and Michael B. McLelland Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029.
*Jody R. Lori, Sara H. and Robert B. Rothschild Endowed Professor of Global Nursing, School of Nursing, June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029.
George A. Mashour, Edward F. Domino Collegiate Professor of Neuroscience, Medical School, March 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2030.
Akbar Waljee, Leslie D. Yamada and Tachi Tamada, M.D. Director, Medical School, Jan. 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028.
Krista R. Wigginton, Paul G. and Dorothy A. Ganzenhuber Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, March 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2031.
Administrative appointments
*Crystal L. Patil, associate dean for research and Rackham Graduate Studies, School of Nursing, Sept. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
*Dana J. Tschannen, associate dean for undergraduate studies, School of Nursing, effective Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2029.
Other transactions
H. Luke Shaefer, extension of government service leave of absence, Feb. 3, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2027.
Manan R. Desai, transfer of tenure to professor of American culture, and professor of English language and literature, LSA, Aug. 25, 2026.
Kelly R. Hoffer, Helen Zell Visiting Professor of Creative Writing, LSA, Aug. 28, 2026, through May 24, 2028.
Diana Hubbell, Helen L. DeRoy-Otto G. Graf Memorial Visiting Professor in Honors, LSA, Aug. 25, 2026, through May 24, 2027.
Matthew L. Kaplan, correction of title for an additional academic administrative appointment as associate vice provost for learning and teaching, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Jan. 1, 2026.
Flint campus
Brian D. Blume, Hagerman Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, School of Management, July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
Keith J. Kelley, associate dean, School of Management, July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
Sapna Thwaite, vice provost for engaged learning and teaching innovation, Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, March 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026.
Stephen W. Turner, vice provost for academic strategy and effectiveness, Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, March 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
*Reappointments
Retirements
Linda M. Chatters, Paula Allen-Meares Collegiate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work, and professor of health behavior and health equity, School of Public Health, May 24, 2026. Chatters earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from U-M (1983) and held postdoctoral positions at the Survey Research Center in the Institute for Social Research. She was an assistant professor at Brandeis University (1985-88), returning to U-M as an assistant professor in health behavior & health education in SPH and as a faculty associate with the Program for Research on Black Americans in the Research Center for Group Dynamics. She was promoted to associate professor (1994) and professor (2005), and was director of the Doctoral Research Education Program for the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (2016-17). She joined the SSW as an associate professor (2003), was promoted to professor (2006), then was named the Paula Allen-Meares Collegiate Professor (2017). Chatters is designated by Thomson-ISI as a Highly Cited Researcher Category of General Social Sciences, producing more than 200 journal articles, chapters and books. A recipient of the Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award (2015), she is also a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Chatters was awarded the 2025 Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work Research.
Jeffrey L. Curtis, professor of internal medicine, Medical School, Jan. 31, 2026. Curtis earned his M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine (1977), then completed his internship (1978), residency (1981) and a clinical immunology fellowship (1983) at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He was a pulmonary research fellow (1983-84) at the Cardiovascular Research Institute of the University of California, San Francisco, then completed his clinical fellowship (1985), was appointed an assistant research immunologist (1985-88) and became an assistant professor in residence (1988-90). He was appointed an assistant professor in internal medicine at U-M (1990-96), promoted to associate professor (1996-2002), then to professor (2002-present). Additionally, he served as an attending physician (1985-88) and staff physician (1988-90) at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and as a staff physician (1990-present) at the Department of Veterans Affairs Health System. Curtis is an expert on pulmonary immunity and chronic lung diseases, recognized for his pioneering research on the immunopathogenesis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He has received many honors, including the Roger Grekin Award in 2017 and the John B. Barnwell Award for Clinical Science Research in 2019. Curtis is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Thoracic Society, American Association of Immunologists, and the American Federation for Medical Research.
Richard E. Hughes, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, Medical School, and associate professor of industrial and operations engineering, College of Engineering, Jan. 9, 2026. Hughes received his B.S.E in civil engineering from Princeton University (1985). He earned his M.S.E (1990) and Ph.D. (1991) in industrial & operations engineering from U-M. He worked at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries as an ergonomist (1991-94). He then did a post-doctoral fellowship at the Mayo Clinic’s orthopaedic biomechanics lab. He left the Mayo Clinic in 1996 and briefly taught calculus at Pierce College. He worked as a safety engineer and team leader at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1997-98). He returned to U-M as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery (orthopaedic surgery) in 1998. When the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery separated from the Department of Surgery in 2001, he became an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery. He was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (1999), which transitioned to affiliated faculty status (2018). He was promoted to associate professor (2004) and associate professor in industrial and operations engineering (2008). Hughes’ primary academic work focused on shoulder biomechanics research and co-founding the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative.
Lloyd D. Johnston, Angus Campbell Collegiate Research Professor, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, April 30, 2026. Johnston earned a B.A. in economics from Williams College (1962), an M.B.A in organizational behavior from Harvard University (1965), as well as an M.A. in psychology (1971) and a Ph.D. (1973) from U-M. He has devoted his professional life to conducting national surveys at ISR. He was promoted to research professor (1998), awarded the University Distinguished Senior Research Scientist title (1998), and received the Angus Campbell Collegiate Research Professor title (2011). He received the Regents’ Award for Distinguished Public Service (1998). Johnston was a co-founder of the ongoing national Monitoring the Future study in 1974 and served as its principal investigator for 43 of its now 52-year existence. MTF has served as a model for similar national studies in 30 European countries and in 11 other countries globally. Johnston has also received many awards, including the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. Johnston has authored two books, over 130 research monographs, over 190 journal articles, and 59 chapters.
Andy Lawlor, lecturer IV in the Business Administration Department, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Aug. 31, 2024. Lawlor was an undergraduate at U-M in the College of Engineering from 1968-72. He had a fellowship with the National Science Foundation at Duke University (1967) and North Carolina College (1973). Lawlor began teaching at the Ross School in 1982. He helped co-create MAP in 1994, taught in ExecMAP (2001-24), and Weekend MAP (2011-23). He was the faculty director of the William Davidson Institute Summer Africa program (1995-2006). During his years at U-M, Lawlor was a dedicated teacher for 44 years and a leader of all the Action-Based Learning courses at the Ross School. For 18 years, he taught MBA business planning courses, helping hundreds of students launch businesses. He was director of the Pryor Hale Business Plan Competition, now called the Michigan Business Challenge, which is the nation’s oldest university business plan contest. He was instrumental in starting the Ross School’s signature Action-Based Learning courses and led 678 MBA team projects with 3,222 students. He was honored with the President’s Award for Distinguished Service in International Education (2024).
Lutgarde Raskin, Vernon L. Snoeyink Distinguished University Professor of Environmental Engineering, Altarum/ERIM Russell D. O’Neal Professor of Engineering, and professor of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering, Dec. 31, 2025. Raskin received both her B.S. and M.S. in bioscience engineering and in economics from KU Leuven, Belgium. She earned her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1993). She served on the faculty at the UIUC for 12 years before joining U-M as a professor of civil and environmental engineering (2005). She also held appointments as director of the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Program (2007-11), graduate chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2014-17), and associate dean for academic programs and initiatives at the Rackham Graduate School (2020-22). Raskin is a recognized expert in microbial aspects of anaerobic waste treatment and drinking water treatment technologies. She has co-authored about 200 journal papers. In recognition of her mentorship, she received the UM Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award in 2017. She was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2021 and is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, the International Water Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
Amy J. Schulz, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor and professor of health behavior and health equity, School of Public Health, May 24, 2026. Schulz received her Ph.D. in sociology (1994) and M.P.H. (1981) from U-M. Following a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship at Yale University (1995-97), she joined SPH as an assistant research scientist (1997). She was promoted to associate professor (2008) and professor (2011). Schulz’s research has focused on the role of social, economic and environmental determinants on population health and health inequities. She is also a leading scholar in community-based participatory research. Schulz served as chair of the Doctoral Curriculum Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and as Rackham Faculty Ally for Diversity for the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity. She taught graduate courses on environmental health, community change and survey research, and was a dedicated mentor, serving as dissertation committee chair and member for over 40 doctoral candidates, as well as multiple generations of MPH students.
Delia M. Vazquez, professor of pediatrics and professor of psychiatry, Medical School, March 18, 2026. Vazquez received her bachelor’s from the University of Puerto Rico (1978) and her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (1982). She completed pediatric residency training at Hurley Medical Center/Michigan State University (1984) and at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (1985). Vazquez completed a clinical fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (1986) and a clinical fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at U-M Health System (1989). She joined the U-M faculty in 1988 as a lecturer in pediatrics. In 2007, she was promoted to professor of pediatrics, the position from which she now retires. Throughout her career, Vazquez has contributed to over 70 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters, advancing knowledge in pediatric endocrinology and developmental neurobiology. Her research has focused on the effects of early-life stress on child development. Clinically, Vazquez has provided expert care in pediatric endocrinology at U-M and the Outreach Specialty Clinic at Marquette General Hospital. She directed the Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program for nearly two decades. She also served as associate chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics.
— Compiled by Genevieve Monsma, The University Record
