Trustees honor 10 professors

By JENNIFER ORLANDO

The State News

MSU added 10 University Distinguished Professors for 2007, bumping up the total number to 104 since the designation process was authorized in 1989.
The MSU Board of Trustees approved Friday the following professors recommended by MSU Provost Kim Wilcox: Wolfgang Bauer, Timothy C. Beers, Michael Bratton, Gary L. Cloud, Robert Floden, Roger C. Haut, Laurie S. Kaguni, Ramani Narayan, Piotr Piecuch and William W. Taylor.

Along with the new title, the professors also will receive a $5,000 average stipend for five years - in addition to their current salary - which will be dedicated to professional activities.

"It's always nice when you're university recognized," Bauer said. "You've done something that is valued by your colleagues and the university administration."

"It seems to me somebody or a group of people in the administration wanted to tell me 'Look, you've done a good job.' I'm very pleased with this recognition."

Deans, faculty members, chairpersons and directors may submit nominations to the provost, upon his or her request, for faculty who have demonstrated numerous scholarly accomplishments, both nationally and internationally. The nominees also must bring attention to MSU through their achievements, among other criteria.

These professors also have showed illustrious achievement in teaching, research and public service.

In 1990, the first batch of 21 distinguished faculty were approved. However, the process of electing the faculty is traditionally not an annual event. Different groups were recommended sporadically throughout the 1990s, but it wasn't until 2001 that the process took on a biennial format.

This allows the committee to choose from a wider selection of professors, said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon at Friday's meeting.

The selection committee brings together faculty and deans to advise the provost and the president.

The 2007 class of university distinguished professors will be acknowledged with an awards banquet this October, Haut said.

"I'm elated, absolutely elated," Haut said. "It's hard for me to believe I've gotten to this level. I was an undergraduate student here and I never would have imagined I would come back and reach this level. It's really very surprising.

"People say I have not stopped smiling yet. If you knew me, you would know that is a surprise."

Staff reporter Ashley A. Smith contributed to this article.