Regents adopt retirement memoirs for 10 faculty members

Regents adopt retirement memoirs for 10 faculty members

ANN ARBOR—Ten University of Michigan faculty members were given the emeritus title by the U-M Regents at their Sept. 21-22 meeting.

Those retiring are Yuri Gurevich, professor of electrical engineering and computer science; Ira Konigsberg, professor of English language and literature and professor of film and video studies; Naomi Lohr, assistant professor of psychology; Gordon M. MacAlpine, professor of astronomy; Gerald A. O’Connor, associate professor of surgery; Daniel H. Ringler, professor of laboratory animal medicine and director of the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine; William R. Solomon, professor of internal medicine; James Stewart-Robinson, professor of Turkish studies; Leroy B. Townsend, the Albert B. Prescott Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and professor of chemistry; and Norman D. Weiner, professor of pharmaceutics.

Gurevich, who joined the U-M faculty in 1982, “has made significant contributions to computational complexity theory and has become one of the leaders in the effort to develop a theory of average-case complexity,” the Regents said. Recognized internationally for his research in logic and theoretical computer science, Gurevich “also has been instrumental in developing theoretical computer science at the U-M,” the Regents noted, and is responsible for the present structure of the graduate curriculum in this area. He received the University’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award in 1990 and the Faculty Recognition Award in 1995.

Konigsberg joined the U-M faculty in 1968. The Regents said that as director of the Program in Film and Video Studies in 1989-95, Konigsberg “built the faculty and course structure to make it a national presence.” Beginning as a specialist in the history of the novel, Konigsberg expanded his scholarly interests to include critical theory and world film. Known for a number of his books, Konigsberg wrote “Samuel Richardson and the Dramatic Novel” (1968), “Narrative Technique in the English Novel: Defoe to Austen” (1985) and the standard reference work “The Complete Film Dictionary” (1987, revised 1997). He co-edited “The Movies: Texts, Receptions, and Exposures” for the University of Michigan Press (1996).

Lohr, who joined the Michigan faculty in 1963, directed the postdoctoral fellowship training in clinical psychobiology in 1981-83, served as associate chair of the clinical area of the Department of Psychology in 1986-91, and was associate director of the Personality Disorders Program in 1987-99. Lohr’s research group was one of the first to uncover the correlation between sexual and other forms of abuse and borderline personality disorder. Lohr has been a “devoted teacher, mentor, and clinician,” recognized by faculty and staff for “her wisdom, expertise, longevity, and devotion” to her department, students and trainees, the Regents said.

MacAlpine joined the U-M faculty in 1972. The astronomer “led the effort to better understand the dynamics and chemical composition of the Crab Nebula, which has improved our understanding of the interaction of a supernova remnant with the surrounding medium,” the Regents said. He also led a spectroscopic survey program that discovered a variety of active galaxies and quasars, providing a more comprehensive sample of these objects than had been available. The Regents described MacAlpine as “a highly effective and well-loved teacher, noted for lucid explanations and concern for his students.”

Prior to joining the faculty in 1958, O’Connor completed his internship and residency at the U-M and practiced at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. He has served as the team physician for the Athletic Department since 1964 and as director of MedSport since 1984. Under his leadership, MedSport has grown into an important clinical center with five orthopedists, 18,000 annual outpatient visits, and 67,000 annual physical therapy visits, noted the Regents, who saluted “this distinguished health educator for his dedicated service.”

Ringler, who joined the faculty in 1969, has served as director of the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine since 1985. Recognized internationally as a leader in the field of laboratory animal science and medicine, Ringler has trained more than 60 postdoctoral veterinary fellows, most of whom are board certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. “He has represented the University many times regarding the use of animals in biomedical research, always giving thoughtful and insightful commentary and bringing distinction upon himself, the University, and the professions of biomedical research and laboratory animal medicine,” the Regents said.

Solomon joined the faculty in 1963 and served as chief of the Allergy Division in the Department of Internal Medicine in 1983-93. Solomon, who the Regents described as a “distinguished physician, scholar, and educator,” has focused his research efforts on the prevalence of bioaerosols and their impact on individuals and respiratory allergy. He “helped develop and implement a study of allergic asthma among inner city youngsters, including its potential for amelioration by practical allergen avoidance measures,” the Regents noted. He also helped develop a network of bioaerosol collection stations in Latin America and helped launch an in-training examination series for fellows in allergy and immunology.

Stewart-Robinson, who joined the U-M in 1956, directed Asian studies in 1963-65 and served as acting director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies in 1982-83. “Professor Stewart-Robinson’s expertise spans the long historical period from the rise of Turkish literature and polity in the 11th and 12th centuries up to the formation of the Turkish Republic in the second decade of the 20th century. He also has taken acute interest in the literary and cultural life of modern Turkey and followed closely recent political developments in that country,” the Regents said. His publications on Ottoman and Turkish language, literature, history and culture demonstrate his unique analytical skills and have become standard references for Turkologists in the west and in Turkey, they noted.

Townsend, a member of the University faculty since 1979, was named the Albert B. Prescott Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 1986. “A world-renowned scientist, Prof. Townsend has been honored and highly acclaimed for his work in the design and synthesis of heterocyclic compounds as potential agents to treat cancer and infectious diseases. He is a pioneer in the synthesis of several nucleoside antibiotics, including the first in a new class of compounds, C-nucleoside antibiotics,” the Regents said. Townsend has helped develop drugs to treat parasitic and viral diseases, including compounds that are highly active against human cytomegalovirus, which causes retinitis in AIDS patients and pneumonitis in bone marrow transplant patients.

Weiner, who joined the U-M faculty in 1972, has made significant discoveries regarding hearing losses related to the drugs neomycin and other aminoglycosides. His work “led to the development of hearing damage assessment measures that have been instrumental in preventing the recurrence of this type of terrible side effect,” the Regents said. In addition to helping demonstrate that liposomes promote drug absorption across the skin, Weiner is well known for his work on the properties of other topical dosage forms such as emulsions. “His insights concerning emulsions are sought after by pharmaceutical companies, food processing companies, and cosmetic manufacturers,” said the Regents, who added, “Prof. Weiner has been a dedicated teacher who has mentored many pharmacy students, graduate students and research fellows.”

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