WMU News

Board approves appointments

Oct. 31, 1997

KALAMAZOO -- The appointments of an associate dean and three department chairpersons were approved Oct. 31 by the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees.

Dr. Richard L. Hodges was named associate dean of the Haworth College of Business, effective July 1, 1997. Those approved to head departments were: Dr. Michael B. Atkins as chairperson of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, effective Jan. 5, 1998; Dr. Jack M. Ruhl as chairperson of the Department of Accountancy, effective July 1, 1997; and James Van Rhee as interim chairperson of the Department of Physician Assistant, effective Nov. 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998.

Hodges has been serving as interim associate dean of the Haworth College of Business since July 1996. A WMU faculty member since 1985, he became interim chairperson of the Department of Accountancy in 1990 and chairperson in 1994. Hodges earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Atkins has been a WMU faculty member since 1971. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas State University and his doctoral degree from Texas A&M University. He replaces Dr. Richard E. Munsterman, who is retiring.

Ruhl has been serving as interim chairperson of the Department of Accountancy since September 1996. A faculty member since 1993, he holds his bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU and his doctoral degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Van Rhee joined the faculty this fall after serving as an academic coordinator for physician assistant students at Grand Valley State University. His experience also includes working as a physician assistant at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He earned his bachelor of science degree from GVSU and a second bachelor of science degree in medicine through the physician assistant program at the University of Iowa. He has been pursuing a master's degree in physician assistant studies at the Finch University/Chicago Medical School. Van Rhee replaces William H. Fenn, who returned to the faculty.

The board also approved the previously announced appointment of Kathy B. Beauregard as director of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, effective Sept. 29, 1997. She replaces James C. Weaver, whose resignation, effective Sept. 26, 1997, also was accepted by the trustees.

In addition, the board accepted the resignations of: Kathleen Blum, instructor of theatre, effective Dec. 23, 1997; and Dr. Susan K. Meyers, chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy, effective June 30, 1998.

In other action, the trustees approved the retirements with emeritus status of these faculty members, along with their years of service and effective dates: William C. Appel, professor of music, 35-1/2 years, effective Jan. 2, 2001; Dr. Ruth Ann Meyer, associate professor of health, physical education and recreation, 32-1/2 years, effective Dec. 31, 1997; Paul A. Robbert, professor of art, 41 years, effective April 30, 1998; and Dr. William R. Welke, professor of accountancy, 31 years, effective June 30, 1998.


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