Board of visitors approves 2007 promotions, tenure, continued appointments

BLACKSBURG, Va., June 15, 2007 – The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved the following promotions, tenure, and continued appointments at its June 4 meeting.

Promotion with tenure to professor, collegiate faculty:

• Naira V. Hovakimyan, aerospace and ocean engineering.

Promotion with tenure to associate professor, collegiate faculty:

• Shawn D. Askew, plant pathology, physiology, and weed science;
• Brian L. Benham, biological systems engineering;
• Sudip Bhattacharjee, accounting and information systems;
• Nancy E. Bodenhorn, educational leadership and policy studies, School of Education;
• Brian Bond, wood science and forest products;
• Brenda R. Brand, teaching and learning, School of Education;
• Virgilio A. Centeno, electrical and computer engineering;
• James H. Collier, English;
• Carolyn A. Copenheaver, forestry;
• Mario Cortes, architecture, School of Architecture + Design;
• Kay F. Edge, architecture, School of Architecture + Design;
• Michael G. Ermann, architecture, School of Architecture + Design;
• Robert G. Hicok, English;
• Yiwei Thomas Hou, electrical and computer engineering;
• Traian Iliescu, mathematics;
• John G. Jelesko, plant pathology, physiology, and weed science;
• Honglin Jiang, animal and poultry sciences;
• Marcella J. Kelly, fisheries and wildlife sciences;
• Thomas P. Kuhar, entomology;
• Michael L. Madigan, engineering science and mechanics;
• Jeffrey A. Mann, English;
• Nancy G. McGehee, hospitality and tourism management;
• Willem G. (Hardus) Odendaal, electrical and computer engineering;
• Sandeep K. Shukla, electrical and computer engineering;
• Robert P. Stephens, history;
• Daniel J. Stilwell, electrical and computer engineering;
• Cheri F. Triplett, teaching and learning, School of Education;
• Peter J. Vikesland, civil and environmental engineering;
• Pavlos P. Vlachos, mechanical engineering;
• Thomas O. Williams, teaching and learning, School of Education; and
• Chenming Zhang, biological systems engineering.

Tenure at the currently held rank of associate professor, collegiate faculty: 

• Finley A. Charney, civil and environmental engineering; 
• Neal M. King, interdisciplinary studies; 
• Gary E. Skaggs, educational leadership and policy studies, School of Education; 
• Joseph J. Wang, aerospace and ocean engineering; and 
• John G. Wells, teaching and learning, School of Education.

Promotion to professor, collegiate faculty:

• Bonnie S. Billingsley, teaching and learning, School of Education;
• Paul R. Carlier, chemistry;
• Thomas E. Cousins, civil and environmental engineering;
• Martin O. Furr, large animal clinical sciences;
• Elizabeth Grabau, plant pathology, physiology, and weed science;
• Marte S. Gutierrez, civil and environmental engineering;
• Mark T. Jones, electrical and computer engineering;
• Doris H. Kincade, apparel, housing, and resource management;
• Michal Kowalewski, geosciences;
• Gwendolyn M. Lloyd, mathematics;
• Barbara B. Lockee, learning sciences and technology, School of Education;
• Susan G. Magliaro, learning sciences and technology, School of Education;
• Xiang-Jin Meng, biomedical sciences and pathobiology;
• Bradford F. Mills, agricultural and applied economics;
• Maury A. Nussbaum, industrial and systems engineering;
• Terry L. Papillon, foreign languages and literatures;
• Mark L. Pitt, physics;
• Hesham A. Rakha, civil and environmental engineering;
• Scott M. Salom, entomology;
• Judith L. Shrum, foreign languages and literatures;
• R. Bruce Vogelaar, physics; and
• Frank H. Weiner, architecture, School of Architecture + Design.

Continued appointment at the currently held rank of assistant professor, extra-collegiate faculty:

• Heather Ball, reference and instructional services, University Libraries;
• Bruce Pencek, reference and instructional services, University Libraries; and
• Michelle Young, reference and instructional services, University Libraries.

Promotion to associate professor, extra-collegiate faculty:

• Kathleen Jamison, 4-H Youth Development, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Promotion to Extension agent, extra-collegiate faculty:

• Kathryn M. Alstat, Greene Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Renee S. Carter, Newport News Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Kimberly H. Edmonds, Henrico Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Melanie D. Goerger, Isle of Wight Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Louis F. Gorr, Prince George Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Tina M. Horn, Augusta Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• T. Michael Likins, Chesterfield Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Robert S. Long, Prince Edward Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Hermon L. Maclin, Prince George Virginia Cooperative Extension;
• Dorothy K. Massey, Floyd Virginia Cooperative Extension; and
• Glenn R. Slade, Surry Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Promotion to senior Extension agent, extra-collegiate faculty:

• Jennifer Mercer, Augusta Virginia Cooperative Extension.

The Office of the Provost provided the information for this story. Content-related questions should be directed to Cyndi Hutchison at (540) 231-2350.

• Mark Owczarski
• Assistant Vice President for News and Information
• 540-231-5223
• maowczar@vt.edu