Appointments of aviation dean and others approved
March 25, 2002
KALAMAZOO--At its March 22 meeting, the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees approved the previously announced appointment of a new aviation dean as well as the appointment of an interim chairperson for the Department of Computer Science.
The appointment of Gregory A. Lyman as dean of the College of Aviation was approved by the board. Lyman, senior vice president and corporate secretary for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, took the reins of the college Jan. 14 from Dr. Richard A. Wright, who stepped down for personal and health reasons after serving two years as dean. Under the foundation's loaned executive program, Lyman is retaining his Kellogg Foundation position. A one-year administrative leave for Wright also was approved by the board.
In other personnel action, trustees approved the appointment of Dr. J. Donald Nelson as interim chairperson of the Department of Computer Science, effective Jan. 7. Nelson, a faculty member since 1970, previously served as chairperson of the department from 1984 until 1998. He also served from 1979 to 1982 as chairperson of the Department of Mathematics. He holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Kentucky.
Trustees also approved a return to the faculty for Robert J. Aardema, associate professor of aviation who has served as chairperson of the Department of Aviation Sciences since 2000.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu