The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents granted
emeritus status to five former faculty and one staff member
at its regular meeting June 17.
To be awarded emeritus status, faculty must have served
EMU for at least 15 years and be nominated for emeritus
faculty status upon retirement. Staff members also must
have served for 15 years.
The faculty members granted emeritus status are:
 |
Dugan |
John Sanford Dugan, professor of foreign
language and bilingual studies, retired after 33 years
of service. Dugan received his doctorate from Washington
State University, his master's degree from Johns Hopkins
University and his bachelor's degree from Yale University.
Dugan, of Ann Arbor, was among the first members of the
faculty to adopt technology as it was introduced into the
University and supported the efforts of his colleagues
to adopt it, according to one of his nominators. He consistently
provided a steady, reasoned voice on departmental issues
and was tireless in his efforts to help the department
and the French section. He worked for the Canadian Studies
Program and the Honors College, as well as other university
committees. Dugan has continued to publish and present
at professional conferences. He recently served on the
Planning Committee of the State Professional Organization
and the Michigan World Languages Association.
 |
A SURE THING: Hugh MucSurely (above,
center),
a retired professor of marketing,
was recently
granted emeritus status. He
is flanked by Board
of Regents Chair Tom
Sidlik (left) and Don Loppnow, EMU's
executive vice president and provost. |
Hugh McSurely, professor of marketing, retired after 27
years of service. McSurely received both his doctorate
and MBA from Syracuse University; and bachelor's degrees
from Columbia University and Columbia College.
McSurely, of Canton, is most recognized for his teaching
and reaching out to students, according to his nominators.
He was the program coordinator for the College of Business's
supply chain management program at the graduate and undergraduate
levels. He was instrumental in launching the supply chain
management graduate certificate program in the College
of Business. For the past three years, he has served as
the director of the program. McSurely received the College
of Business's Distinguished Service Award in 2007. He is
known by his colleagues as a "voice of reason," said one
of his nominators.
Gary B. McCombs, associate professor of accounting and
finance, provided 26 years of service to EMU. McCombs,
of Canton, received his master's degree and bachelor's
degree from the University of Michigan. He also completed
18 hours of post-master work at the University of Michigan.
McCombs died unexpectedly in his sleep from a heart attack
April 20. Donations of more than $4,000 came in to the "Great
Teachers in Accounting Endowed Scholarship Fund" at the
EMU Foundation, in memory of McCombs. During his time at
EMU, McCombs designed the BBA-Accounting Information Systems
program with Mo Sharifi, now an EMU emeritus faculty member.
The first student graduated from the program in 1986. Since
then, nearly 300 students have earned this degree. With
Sharifi and Tom Cianciolo, another emeritus faculty member,
McCombs created the 150-hour combined BBA/MSA program,
with the first graduates in 2001. To date, 150 students
have graduated from the program, earning both a BBA and
MSA.
Janet Kauffman, professor of English language and literature,
retired after 20 years of service. Kauffman, of Hudson,
received her doctorate and master's degree from the University
of Chicago, and her bachelor's degree from Juniata College
in Huntingdon, Pa.
Kauffman has significantly contributed to shaping the
undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing,
helping to establish a national reputation for both, said
one of her nominators. She has maintained an impressive
publication record with 10 books of fiction and multiple
works of mixed media and short stories. She has made Eastern
more visible through her many awards, including a National
Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, Woodrow Wilson Fellowship,
Yaddo residency and more. Kauffman has received two Pushcart
Prizes for short story and poetry, and was a finalist for
the PEN/Faulkner Award.
 |
WELCOME TO THE FOLD: James Adolph
Robinson
(above, center), a professor of
communication and
theatre arts, was
recently granted emeritus faculty
status.
He is flanked by Board of Regents Chair
Tom
Sidlik (left) and Don Loppnow, EMU's
executive vice president
and provost. |
James Adolph Robinson, professor of communication and
theatre arts, retired after 20 years of service. Robinson,
of Farmington Hills, received his doctorate from the University
of Michigan, his master's degree from Wayne State University
and his bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit.
Robinson devoted his professional career to the study
of communication, specifically the impact or influence
of race in the communication exchange. He designed and
implemented "CTAC 275: Interracial/Interethnic Communication." The
course has been very successful and a critical addition
to the communication program, said one of his nominators.
He also developed the graduate course, "CTAC 511: Reading
in Interracial/Interethnic Communication." Robinson is
a strong advocate for race relations, community relations
and intercultural awareness.
The staff member granted emeritus status is:
 |
Erwin |
J. Michael Erwin, interim associate vice president of
the Division of Student Affairs, retired after 23 years
of service. Erwin, of Chelsea, received his doctorate from
the University of Michigan, and his master's degree and
bachelor's degree from Indiana University.
During his time at EMU, Erwin also was a corporate relations
specialist, assistant director of corporate relations and
director of career services. Erwin's willingness to help
in any area he was needed resulted in his serving on many
university committees, said one of his nominators. These
included the University Strategic Planning Committee, North
Central Accreditation Steering Committee, Faculty/Staff
Campaign, Institutional Research Advisory Committee, University
Technology Advisory Committee, the Banner Implementation
Steering Committee, and more. In 1997, he received the
Gold Medallion Award for administrative/professional employee.
Erwin also made time for community involvement with United
Way, HelpSource in Ann Arbor, Options Center, Inc., and
the American Cancer Society. Erwin has always had a true
sense of EMU's academic mission and how staff offices need
to operate to support that mission, according to his nomination.
