Board of Visitors Makes Faculty Appointments, Selects Student Representative

April 25, 2014

The Old Dominion University Board of Visitors made several faculty appointments and selected next year's student representative to the board at its April 24 meeting.

The board appointed Hani Elsayed-Ali, professor and Eminent Scholar of electrical and computer engineering, to Batten Endowed Professor of electrical and computer engineering.

On the recommendation of the Academic and Research Advancement Committee, the board approved the granting of the title of emeritus to David R. Basco, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and the title of emerita to Janet M. Bing, professor of English, and to Carol A. Doll, professor of teaching and learning. The effective date for all is June 1.

The board also approved the posthumous granting of the title of emeritus to Samuel F. Coppage Jr., associate professor of information technology and decision sciences who died earlier this year.

On the recommendation of the Student Advancement Committee, the board chose Rodin Ndandula as the student representative to the board for the coming year. Ndandula is a master's student in engineering management and received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Old Dominion last May. He has served as a senator in the Student Government Association and worked as an assistant hall director, and is a former member of the wrestling team.

The board also approved the appointment of Trianne Smith as representative to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Corey Coleman to serve on the Student Engagement and Enrollment Services Leadership Council. Both are one-year terms. Smith is a junior music business and production major, and Coleman is an officer candidate with the Hampton Roads Naval Reserve Officer Training Command.

A proposal to rename the College of Continuing Education to the College of Continuing Education and Professional Development, effective April 24, was approved by the board, as was a proposal to rename the Office of International Student and Scholar Services as the Office of Visa and Immigration Service Advising (VISA), effective July 1.

In other matters, the board's Administration and Finance Committee heard a report on the status of the new Education Building project. The university anticipates beginning construction on the $42.5 million facility early this summer. The committee also heard a presentation on two new bookstore pilot initiatives, BookNow+ and includED, that address ways to reduce textbook costs and assist faculty with the selection of more effective and potentially less expensive course materials.

President John R. Broderick shared with the board the following promotions in academic rank that he approved, effective with the 2014-15 academic year:

Promotion to Professor

• College of Arts and Letters - James E. Baesler, communication and theatre arts; Andrey Kasparov, music; Nancy Klein, music; Victoria Time, sociology and criminal justice
• Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology - Oscar Gonzalez, electrical and computer engineering; Steve Hsiung, engineering technology
• College of Health Sciences - Carolyn Rutledge, nursing; Bonnie Van Lunen, physical therapy and athletic training
• College of Sciences - Guijun Wang, chemistry and biochemistry

Promotion to Research Associate Professor

• Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center - Rafael Diaz

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

• College of Arts and Letters - Sarah Appleton, English; Vaughan Frederick, women's studies
• Darden College of Education - Sabra Gear, communication disorders and special education; Jennifer Kidd, teaching and learning
• College of Health Sciences - Janice Hawkins, nursing; Denise Isibel, nursing
• College of Sciences - Tatyana Lobova, biological sciences; Douglas Mills, biological sciences; Suzanne Morrow, psychology; Josh Wallach, chemistry and biochemistry.