Four Faculty Members Appointed University Professors

Four faculty members were recognized as newly appointed University Professors at the Faculty Awards and Retirement Dinner on May 3.

Francis Adams joined the university in 1995, teaching courses in international relations and comparative politics. His teaching and research interests focus on the political economy, international development and Latin American politics. He has written several publications, including the book "Deepening Democracy: Global Governance and Political Reform in Latin America."

Nancy Klein has directed the choral department at Old Dominion since 1986. Under her direction, the University Choir and Diehn Chorale have performed all over the globe, including St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. Klein is sought after as a guest conductor and vocal clinician. She is currently graduate program director and director of choirs in the Department of Music, where she also teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting.

Gayle McCombs is a professor and graduate program director in dental hygiene, as well as director of the Dental Hygiene Research Center. In 2010, she was part of a Physicians for Peace dental team that visited Nicaragua. She has had several published peer reviews in journals.

Charles Sukenik joined the faculty in 1997 following postdoctoral appointments at the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin. His research specialization is experimental ultracold atomic, molecular and plasma physics. He has taught beginning and advanced classes across the physics spectrum and has helped to introduce new teaching methods at the university. He is an associate professor of physics and is also the undergraduate program director. In 2010, he was designated as a University Professor.