Chemistry, Psychology name new department heads in Oklahoma State University personnel action

Friday, June 19, 2009

(TULSA, OK, June 19, 2009) -- Several personnel actions were approved during the Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents meeting Friday on the OSU-Tulsa campus.

Frank D. Blum of Rolla, Mo., was named professor and head of the Department of Chemistry. Blum is currently Curators’ Professor of Chemistry, adjunct professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and senior research investigator in the Graduate Center for Materials Research at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

He received his B.S. in chemistry and M.S. in physical chemistry, both from Eastern Illinois University, and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Prior to his position at Missouri University of Science and Technology, he was a professor at the University of Missouri-Rolla, and an assistant professor at Drexel University.

Larry L. Mullins, OSU professor of psychology since 2007, was named head of the Department of Psychology. He served on the OSU faculty from 1995-2004, and from 2004-07 was professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, where he joined the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 1985 and has served as a clinical professor there since 1997.

He received his B.A. degree in psychology from OSU, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

APPOINTMENTS:  Ajay Kumar, assistant professor, biosystems and agricultural engineering; Amy L. Martindale, director, arts and sciences student personnel; John M. Kinder, assistant professor, history; Meredith J. Blecha and John C. Seesholtz, assistant professors, music; William L. Pessemier, assistant professor, political science; Stephanie N. Sweatt, assistant professor, psychology; Maria C. Beach, assistant professor, theatre; Geoffrey P.G. Pivateau, assistant professor, economics and legal studies; Bruce Barringer, professor and Johnny D. Pope Chair, appointment grants tenure, entrepreneurship; Bryan Edwards, Rebecca Greenbaum, Timothy A. Hart, assistant professors, management; Awilda C. Rodriguez and Jerry L. Stivers, assistant professors, architecture; Douglas A. Wright, director, Center for Local Government Technology; Catherine G. Lamm, assistant professor, Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab; Dustin V. Devine and Chelsea L. Makloski, assistant professors, veterinary clinical sciences; John N. Gilliam, clinical assistant professor, veterinary clinical sciences; Brett F. Carver, Regents Professor, plant and soil sciences, appointed to Wheat Genetics Chair.

CHANGES:  Jeffory A. Hattey, title change from professor to professor and Dillon and Lois Hodges Professor, plant and soil sciences; William R. Raun, title change from Regents Professor and Mel and Mary Jones Professor to Regents Professor and Nutrients for Life Professor, plant and soil sciences; Robert V. Miller, from Regents Professor and head, microbiology and molecular genetics, to Regents Professor; Maureen Sullivan, titled change from associate professor and head, to associate professor, psychology; John D. Foubert, title change from associate professor to associate professor and Anderson, Farris, Halligan Professor, educational studies; Brecca R. Farr, title change from clinical faculty to coordinator, career services, human environmental sciences; Mark C. Rochat, title change from professor to professor and Cohn Family Endowed Chair, veterinary clinical sciences.

SABBATICAL:  Sandeep M. Nabar, accounting, 100 percent sabbatical to advance professional expertise in accounting instruction and research by collaboration with the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, Jan. 1-June 30, 2010.

RETIREMENTS:  George E. Hedrick III, computer science, July 2; Ibrahim Cemen, geology, June 30; David A. Hanser, architecture, June 1; Edward O. Price III, economics and legal studies, June 30; Garold D. Oberlender, civil and environmental engineering, June 1; Thomas G. Bertenshaw, engineering technology, July 1.

At the OSU Center for Health Sciences, appointments were approved for Angela N. Farrar, clinical assistant professor, medicine; Mousumi Som, assistant professor, medicine; and for Timothy J. Frink, clinical assistant professor, surgery. Title changes were approved for Robin R. Dyer, from associate professor to associate professor and chair, osteopathic manipulative medicine; and Craig W. Stevens, from professor and chair to professor, pharmacology and physiology.

For the OSU-Institute of Technology, a change of title was approved for Glenda C. Ballard, from coordinator to director, assessment services.

For OSU-Oklahoma City, the appointment was approved for David Eason, instructor, engineering technologies. Retirements accepted were for Gerald D. Patterson, industrial drafting and design, June 30; and Neal A. Willison, electronics and environmental technology, June 30.