Faculty Convocation Recognizes Outstanding Faculty & Staff
For release: April 22, 2004
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

Fourteen members of the University of Memphis community were honored for their performance in various capacities at the University of Memphis during the annual Faculty Convocation. Awards recognized excellence in teaching, research, and advising. One person received the Eminent Faculty Award, and one person received an award given from the president's office for outstanding service.

Dr. Cyril Chang was named this year's Eminent Faculty member for his exceptional and sustained contributions to scholarly and creative achievement, teaching, and service that have brought recognition to the University. Given by the Board of Visitors, an advisory group to the president made up of local business and professional people, the annual award also carries a $20,000 stipend.

Chang teaches health care and executive MBA economics in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics; he is also director of the Methodist LeBonheur Center for Healthcare Economics, which is housed in the University's Fogelman College.

Four outstanding teachers recognized by the U of M Alumni Association. They were Dr. Melvin Beck in biology, Dr. Robert Frankle in history, Dr. Ladrica Menson-Furr in English, and Dr. Carolyn Speros in nursing.

Two other teaching excellence awards were presented by the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation. Those awards went to Dr. Charles Biggers, biology professor, and Mr. Stephen Hancock, who teaches in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The Alumni Association also honored four faculty members for their research. Communication professor Dr. David Appleby was honored for his work in the creative arts, geophysicist Dr. Paul Bodin for his work in the areas of science, engineering, and math, communications professor Dr. Allison Graham for her research in the humanities, and management professor Dr. Rabi Bhagat for his work in the social sciences and business.

Advising awards went to Dr. Lloyd Brooks from the Department of Management Information Systems and to Ms. Sharon Guffin of the Academic Counseling Center.

The President's Allen J. Hammond Award honored Ms. Michelle Banks, the University's Equal Employment/Affirmative Action Compliance Officer. The award, which is named for a former director of Financial Aid at the University, is not an annual award, but is reserved for persons who deserve special recognition.

Faculty convocation is an annual event, coming near the end of the academic year. It includes a traditional academic procession across the campus, with professors dressed in full academic regalia, and a Faculty Colloquium, at which faculty members discuss their research and special projects.

The next major academic event for the University will be commencement, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 1, at The Pyramid.

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