OSU Regents approve personnel actions

Friday, June 20, 2008

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok., June 20, 2008) -- Several personnel actions were approved during the Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents meeting on today on the OSU-Oklahoma City campus.

Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst of the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University was named assistant dean for the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. She joined the faculty of NDSU in 2000 and was an associate professor and department internship coordinator.

Prior to this, she was a research specialist with the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, and an administrative and outreach coordinator with the Center for Farm and Rural Business Finance, both at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University, and her Ph.D. in agricultural and consumer economics from the University of Illinois.

Dr. Derina Holtzhausen, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the School of Mass Communications at the University of South Florida, has been appointed professor and director of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting.  She received a B.A. in Afrikaans Dutch literature, German and psychology at the University of Pretoria, a magister artium at the University of South Africa, and a Ph.D. in communication science from Rand Afrikaans University. She joined the University of South Florida faculty in 1997.

Dr. William D. Picking, professor and associate chair of the Department of Molecular biosciences at the University of Kansas since 2007, has been named professor and head of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.  He received his B.S. degree from Kansas State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, both in microbiology, and was a Clayton Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin. Prior to joining the KU faculty in 1999, he was an associate professor in biology at Saint Louis University.

Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad, Gabrois Chair and professor of mathematics at Colgate University since 2005, has been named head of the Department of Statistics.  He received his B.Sc. in applied statistics and econometrics from the University of Cairo, and his M.S. in statistics and his Ph.D. in statistics and operations research, both from Florida State University. Prior to joining the Colgate faculty, he served as professor and chair of statistics and actuarial science at the University of Central Florida and professor and director of the Division of Statistics at Northern Illinois University.

Dr. Michael F. Logan, OSU professor of history and director of the certificate program in environmental studies, has been named head of the Department of History.  He received his B.A. in history and journalism, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in U.S. history, all from the University of Arizona. He joined the OSU faculty in 1994.

Dr. James R. Fain, professor and graduate adviser in economics, has been named head of the Department of Economics and Legal Studies.   He received his B.A. from the University of Texas-Austin, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University, all in economics. He joined the OSU faculty in 1986. He received the 1997 Kenneth and Leitner Greiner Undergraduate Teaching Award and the 1995 Merrick Foundation Teaching Award.

APPOINTMENTS:  Eric A. DeVuyst, associate professor, agricultural economics; Rita K. Miller, assistant professor, biochemistry and molecular biology; Robert S. Frazier, assistant professor, biosystems and agricultural engineering; David M. Engle, professor and director, Water Research and Extension Center, with tenure, natural resource ecology and management; Difei Zhang and Chris B. Zou, assistant professors, natural resource ecology and management; Tyson E. Ochsner, assistant professor, plant and soil sciences; Laura D. Shirtcliff, assistant professor, chemistry; Ronald T. McCoy, professor, history, with tenure; Wendy Picking, associate professor, microbiology and molecular genetics; Jonathan L. Martin, assistant professor, music; Nikolas G. Emmanuel, assistant professor, political science; Matthew G. Bolek and Bernard T. Luttbeg, assistant professors , zoology; Blaine C. Long, assistant professor, applied health and educational psychology; Hui-Fen Chang, assistant professor, library; Matthew S. Brown, director, residential life administration.

CHANGES:  Peter R. Hoyt, from assistant research professor to associate research professional, biochemistry and molecular biology; Kay L. Ensign, from senior manager to director, employee services, human resources; Brenda K. Ganders, from manager to director, partner services, human resources; Eric S. Maynard, from manager to ISO/director of information technology security.  

 Robert L. Matts, professor and chair of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, professor of natural resource ecology and management, were appointed to Sarkeys Distinguished Professorships. Jami A. Fullerton, professor of journalism and broadcasting, was appointed to the Welch Chair.

Stepping down as department heads are William J. Henley, professor, botany; Julia C. Combs, professor, music; Elizabeth Williams, associate professor, history; William D. Warde, professor, statistics; and Anthony W. Confer, Regents Professor and Sitlington Endowed Chair, veterinary pathobiology.

SABBATICAL:  Katye M. Perry, educational studies, 100 percent sabbatical to develop a more contemporary curriculum model for both master’s and doctoral programs in evaluation methodology, from Jan. 2-June 30, 2009.

RETIREMENTS:  Laval Verhalen, plant and soil sciences, June 2; Brewster E. Fitz, English, June 2; Hermann G. Burchard, mathematics, Aug. 31; Paul A. Westhaus, physics, June 2; Ted M. Vestal, political science, July 31; Kay S. Bull, applied health and educational psychology, June 2; Robert E. Nolan, educational studies, June 1; Richard J. Bryant, teaching and curriculum leadership, May 31; Jeffrey D. Stewart, physical plant administration, Aug. 1; Robert W. Huss, residential life administration, Aug. 1.

    OSU CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES:  New appointments included William P. Wylie, clinical assistant professor, family medicine; William D. Po, clinical associate professor, obstetrics/gynecology; and Kelley J. Joy, clinical assistant professor, osteopathic manipulative medicine.

    Also at CHS, Vivian M. Stevens, professor and chair, was named associate dean, student affairs. Changes in title were approved for Robin R. Dyer from clinical associate professor and vice chair, osteopathic manipulative medicine, to associate professor and vice chair; for Ray Cordry Jr., from assistant professor and chair, PP-psychiatry, to assistant professor, PP-psychiatry; and for Stanley E. Grogg, from professor and medical director OMECO, to professor and medical director clinical research, pediatrics.

OSU-INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY:  Change of title was approved for Wren E. Hawthorne Jr. from vice president, enrollment management and marketing, to director, institutional assessment and research. The retirement was accepted for Dennis W. Crouch, visual communications, effective June 6.

    OSU-OKLAHOMA CITY:  Promotions were approved for Catreana Bennett from administrative director to executive assistant vice president, business and industry relations, and for Jonathan A. Fozard, from assistant director to director, instructional technology. Retirements were accepted for Karen S. Kay, business office, June 30, and for Irving C. Tang, mathematics, July 1.