The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents granted
emeritus status to two former staff members and two former
faculty at its regular meeting Nov. 14.
To be awarded emeritus status, faculty and staff must
have served EMU for at least 15 years and be nominated
for emeritus status upon retirement.
Staff granted emeritus status are:
 |
Hamilton |
Theophilus Hamilton, College of Education
satellite office coordinator, Career Services Center, retired
after 37 years of service. Hamilton, of Ypsilanti, received
his master's degree in school administration; his bachelor's
degree in music education; and his specialist's degree
in education leadership, all from Eastern Michigan University.
Hamilton, of Ypsilanti, became the first African-American
teacher in Michigan's Upper Peninsula when he accepted
a position with the Pickford Public Schools in 1955. He
later served as principal and assistant principal with
the Highland Public Schools and, upon request of President
Sponberg, became EMU's first black professional in 1967.
For almost four decades, Hamilton helped tens of thousands
of students and alumni prepare for and find teaching and
administrative positions. His unique combination of optimism,
professionalism and genuine concern for people led to countless
awards from the University, the community and his profession.
Jill Nugent, teacher/placement specialist,
department of mathematics, retired after 20 years of service.
Nugent received both her master's degree and bachelor's
degree in mathematics from Eastern Michigan University.
Nugent, of Canton, was an integral part of the developmental
mathematics program, helping to shape its goals, philosophy
and methods. One of her greatest contributions has been
enabling students to succeed in programs that they thought
were out of reach due to weak mathematical skills and background.
Her hard work and dedication have helped numerous students
prove to themselves that they were capable of mastering,
and even enjoying, a subject that had previously represented
only fear and frustration.
Faculty granted emeritus status are:
 |
Karabenick |
Stuart Karabenick, professor, department of psychology,
retired after 40 years of service. Karabenick, of Ann Arbor,
received his bachelor's and doctorate degrees from the
University of Michigan.
Karabenick has been an active researcher in the areas
of teaching and learning. He has written articles, which
have appeared in some of psychology's most prestigious
and competitive journals, and his research projects have
attracted substantial amounts of external funding. As director
of the Center for Research Support, Karabenick assisted
countless faculty and students in their research efforts.
In addition, he worked to promote the use of computers
in instruction and helped to develop the Center for Instructional
Computing.
 |
Williams |
Patricia Williams, professor, department of art, retired
after 30 years of service. Williams has a bachelor's degree
from Carlton College and a master's degree from Indiana
University.
Williams, of Brighton, has an extensive exhibition record
and has received many awards over the years. She is a superb
weaver, highly skilled in the use of optical color mixing
for Jacquard tapestry weaves. While at EMU, Williams inspired
hundreds of students who now work as teachers and professional
artists. She continues to be engaged in professional development,
actively pursuing textile experiments while creating and
exhibiting new work. She served on the art department's
assessment steering, advisory and scholarship committees.
