ANN ARBOR—Three University of Michigan faculty members were given the emeritus title by the U-M Regents at their April 17-18 meeting.

Those retiring are Gayl D. Ness, professor of sociology and of population planning and international health; James A. Taren, professor of surgery; and Robert L. Ellison, professor of dentistry.

Prof. Ness, who joined the U-M faculty in 1964, has “a distinguished record in elucidating the relationships between population and development, and he has been a pioneer in studying the relations between population and the environment,” the Regents said. “As director of the Population-Environment Dynamics Project and as the key force in the Global Change Project, he has produced important research results himself and has drawn numerous other faculty members and students into his field. In addition to his scholarly accomplishments, Prof. Ness has been active in faculty governance.”

Prof. Taren, who joined the U-M faculty in 1957, served as associate dean for academic programs of the Medical School in 1978-87 and director of the Office of Integration of Information and Computer Technology for the Medical Campus in 1988-89. His research activities focused on the problem of chronic intractable pain, on obsessive-compulsive disorders, and on Parkinson’s disease. “Dr. Taren’s career was marked by innovative approaches to difficult neurosurgical problems,” the Regents noted. “He is known for his expertise in the management of chronic intractable pain states and the control of involuntary movement disorders.”

Prof. Ellison joined the U-M faculty in 1971. “Known for his dedication to teaching, Dr. Ellison has served as a member of over 30 master’s thesis committees throughout his tenure in the School of Dentistry,” the Regents said. “He has been course director for several undergraduate and graduate courses in endodontics. He has presented numerous lectures on endodontics to professional organizations both nationally and internationally. His publication record includes over 30 articles, and he is co-author of four clinic manuals used in the dental curriculum.”