Academic appointments approved by trustees
March 31, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- The appointments of two new associate vice presidents, an interim dean and two academic department heads were approved by the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees at its March 28 meeting.
Trustees gave their approval to the appointments of Dr. Rollin G. Douma as associate vice president for academic affairs, effective April 1, 2003; Dr. Chester B. Rogers as associate vice president and director of academic collective bargaining, effective Jan. 6, 2003; Dr. Leonard C. Ginsberg as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective Jan. 6, 2003; Dr. David A. Barnes as interim chairperson of the Department of Geosciences, effective July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004; and Dr. John A. Patten as chairperson of the Department of Manufacturing Engineering and director of the Center for Manufacturing Research, effective Aug. 1, 2003.
Rollin Douma, a WMU faculty member since 1970, is a professor of English who has held a variety of administrative posts at the University. Most recently, he has served as interim dean of the College of Education. He also has served as dean of the Graduate College from 1994 to 1997; as interim dean of the Graduate College, from 1992 to 1994 and as associate dean of the college, from 1979 to 1992.
Active on numerous University committees and task forces, Douma also has served as editor of the Graduate College catalogue since 1978 and has been a member of four Universitywide search committees charged with filling upper-level administrative posts at WMU. He has been an active member of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English, the National Council of Teachers of English and the Michigan Council of Graduate Deans.
Douma earned a bachelor's degree in 1962, two master's degrees in 1966 and 1967, and a doctoral degree in 1973, all from the University of Michigan.
He replaces Dr. Thomas Bailey, who stepped down from the post to become director of WMU's Environmental Studies Program.
Chester Rogers, who has served as director of academic collective bargaining and contract administration since 1999, joined the University's political science department as an assistant professor in 1966. He earned the rank of associate professor in 1975 and professor in 1984. In 1979-80, Rogers took a two-year leave of absence from WMU to serve on then-Congressman Howard Wolpe's staff. He also served as chairperson of the Political Science Department from 1992 to 1997 and as director of graduate studies in that department from 1997 to 1999.
Before earning his doctoral degree from Northwestern University in 1967, Rogers earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Cincinnati in 1962 and 1963, respectively.
Leonard Ginsberg, a biologist who specializes in molecular biology and in vitro toxicology, has served since 1996 as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A member of the faculty since 1976, he previously served as chairperson of the Department of Biological Science from 1991 to 1996. As associate dean, he headed the science building project, led the development of an interdisciplinary Environmental Research Center and helped reorganize science education initiatives of the Mallinson Institute for Science Education.
A 1969 graduate of Albright College, Ginsberg earned master's and doctoral degrees at Temple University and served as a postdoctoral fellow in medical genetics at Baylor College of Medicine.
Ginsberg replaces Dr. Elise Jorgens, who is serving as WMU's interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.
David Barnes has been a member of the geosciences faculty since 1986. An expert in sedimentology and petroleum geology, he worked for SOHIO Petroleum Co./Standard Oil Co. in California and Texas before joining the faculty at WMU. His most recent research has focused on finding ways to stop or slow shoreline erosion and the establishment of an underwater preserve in the southern portion of Lake Michigan.
Barnes earned a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in 1974 and a doctoral degree from the University of California-Santa Barbara in 1982.
He replaces Dr. Alan Kehew, who will take a sabbatical leave during the 2003-04 academic year.
John Patten comes to WMU from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he is a professor of manufacturing engineering technology and a founding faculty member of the Center for Precision Metrology. He has spent more than 18 years at UNC-Charlotte and has been active in basic and applied research projects. His current research interests include machining and semiconductor and ceramic materials. His work at UNC-Charlotte also included service as a program coordinator of a manufacturing program that put him in close working relationships with community colleges in the region, and he has some 13 years of experience working in industry.
Patten earned a bachelor's degree from what was then General Motors Institute in 1976. He earned a master's degree from Oakland University in 1982 and a doctoral degree from North Carolina State University in 1996.
He replaces Dr. Michael Atkins, who is now dean of WMU's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu