WMU News

Board approves appointments

June 27, 1997

KALAMAZOO--The appointments of several new department chairpersons were approved June 27 by the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees.

They are: Dr. Leonard J. Beuving as chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences, effective July 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998; Dr. Ralph C. Chandler as director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, effective July 1, 1997; Dr. David G. Houghton as chairperson of the Department of Political Science, effective July 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998; Dr. William (Arnold) Johnston as chairperson of the Department of English, effective July 1, 1997; Dr. Jay C. Means as chairperson of the Department of Chemistry, effective July 1, 1997; and Charles Stroh as chairperson of the Department of Art, effective July 1, 1997.

Means and Stroh are new to the University, while the others are longtime faculty members. Means currently is a professor of veterinary pharmacology, physiology and toxicology in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. A faculty member there since 1987, he also has served as a professor of toxicology and environmental chemistry in the Institute for Environmental Studies, adjunct professor of chemistry and coordinator of the Interdepartmental Program in Toxicology.

A specialist in environmental chemistry, analytical biochemistry, organic geochemistry and genetic toxicology, Means has held visiting appointments at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the National Science Foundation/National Bureau of Standards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. He is the author of numerous articles for professional publications and the recipient of grants from several state and federal sources for his research.

Means earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois and a second master's degree from Concordia University in Illinois. His appointment includes tenure as a professor in both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biological Sciences. The board also approved a professional development leave for him from July 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 1997. Because he was hired late in the academic year, he needs to remain at Louisiana State until the end of the calendar year. However, he was officially appointed on July 1 so that he can apply for research grants to come to WMU. He will be on leave from the University, drawing no compensation.

Stroh comes to WMU from Kansas State University, where he has been a faculty member since 1980. He has served as head of the Department of Art and currently works as a professor of drawing. His background as an artist is in printmaking, lithography, drawing, sculpture, painting and photography. He has received numerous grants to support his work from such organizations as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

In 1989, Stroh was selected as a Fulbright Visiting Lecturer to India and, in 1993, he was one of three artists in the state to be awarded a Kansas Artists' Fellowship. He has exhibited his work across the United States as well as in India. His pieces are included in numerous public collections, including those of the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin, the American Embassy in Oslo, Norway, and the Mulvane Art Museum in Kansas. He earned his bachelor's degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and both a master of science degree and a master of fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. His appointment at WMU includes tenure as a professor of art.

Means replaces Dr. Michael E. McCarville and Stroh replaces Phillip VanderWeg. The board approved a return to the faculty for both, effective July 1, 1997. It also granted a professional development leave to VanderWeg, effective July 1, 1997, through April 19, 1998.

Beuving, a WMU faculty member since 1970, has been serving as interim chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences for the past year. He holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.

Chandler, a WMU faculty member since 1976, replaces Dr. Peter Kobrak, who has been serving as interim director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Chandler holds two bachelor's degrees, one each from Stetson University and Union Theological Seminary, two master's degrees, one each from Rutgers University and Princeton Theological Seminary, and a doctoral degree from Columbia University.

Houghton also has been serving as interim chairperson of the Department of Political Science for the past year while Dr. Chester B. Rogers was on a leave of absence. The board also approved Rogers' return to the faculty, effective July 1, 1997. Houghton, a WMU faculty member since 1974, earned his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University, his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and his doctoral degree from the University of Colorado.

Johnston, a faculty member in the Department of English since 1966, replaces Dr. Shirley Clay Scott, who has been named dean of WMU's Graduate College. He holds his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Delaware.

The board also approved the appointment of Dr. Timothy Light as a professor of comparative religion and a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern languages, with tenure in both departments, effective June 27, 1997. This appointment is in addition to his title as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Light has been a member of the comparative religion faculty for several years. The new Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Languages was approved by the Board of Trustees at its April meeting. Light said he wanted to join the new department's faculty as well because it is the field in which he earned his doctoral degree and where his experience and most of his research and publication is located.

"Because it is a new department, there are no senior faculty, and it seems best to be sure that the new faculty are accompanied by a senior one," he said. "But I enjoy very much the immense privilege of being a part of WMU's outstanding and highly regarded Department of Comparative Religion, and I look forward to continuing to teach in comparative religion as well."

In addition, the trustees approved the previously announced appointments of John Fraire as dean of admissions, effective June 9, 1997; and of Ronald Stewart as head women's basketball coach, effective June 16, 1997. The trustees also approved the previously announced return to the English faculty of Dr. Rollin G. Douma, dean of the Graduate College, effective July 1, 1997, and resignation of Patricia Charity, head women's basketball coach, effective May 31, 1997.

The board also accepted the resignations of these faculty members: Dr. Kevin A. Armstrong,

assistant professor of psychology, effective Aug. 20, 1997; Qianshen Bai, assistant professor of art, effective Aug. 10, 1997; Dr. James Cappel, assistant professor of business information systems, effective Aug. 14, 1997; Dr. Robin Clark, assistant professor of art, effective Aug. 10, 1997; Dr. Carol L. Hagans, assistant professor in the University Counseling and Testing Center, effective July 5, 1997; James B. Hammond, associate professor of physician assistant, effective June 30, 1997; Dr. Cindy M. Hoorn, assistant professor of biological sciences, effective Aug. 10, 1997; Dr. Martin S. Meloche, assistant professor of marketing, effective Dec. 20, 1997; Dr. John L. Valasek, assistant professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering, effective Aug. 10, 1997; and Dr. JoAnne Wright, assistant professor of occupational therapy, effective June 15, 1997.

In other action, the trustees approved a leave of absence for Dr. Claudio D. Milman, assistant professor of management, effective July 31, 1997, through July 30, 1998, and sabbatical leaves for two faculty members for the 1997-98 academic year: Dr. Linda J. Borish, assistant professor of history; and Dr. Tal L. Simmons, associate professor of anthropology.


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