Twelve retiring faculty honored with 'Emeritus' status

Edward Farley, Ph.D., Drucilla Moore Buffington professor of theology, to be awarded the title of Drucilla Moore Buffington professor of theology, emeritus, effective June 1997.

A noted authority in philosophic and systematic theology, Farley joined Vanderbilt's Divinity School in 1969. His classic publication, "Theologia," laid the foundation for nationwide reconsideration of the aims and purposes of theological education. It was the most widely read book on the subject of theological education in the history of the Association of Theological Schools. In addition, he has published eight other books, including two within the last year.

At Vanderbilt he has been instrumental in reforming the Divinity School curriculum, which has been lauded by theological scholars throughout the nation. In 1991, Phi Beta Kappa gave him an award for excellence in research and three years later, he was elected a lifetime Fellow at Clair College at Cambridge University.

Charlotte F. Fischer, Ph.D., professor of computer science, to be awarded the title of professor of computer science, emerita, effective September 1997.

A native Canadian, Fischer obtained a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and chemistry from the University of British Columbia in 1952 and her master of arts degree in mathematics in 1954. She subsequently attended Cambridge University, where she was awarded a Ph.D. in applied mathematics and computing in 1957.

A pioneer in the area of computational science, Fischer became the first woman scientist to be awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship at Harvard University. She is internationally known for her research in atomic structure theory and for her atomic structure calculations software. In 1991 she was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society, in part for her role in discovering negative calcium.

Fischer retired in August, after serving Vanderbilt with distinction for 16 years.

H. Jackson Forstman, Th.D., Charles G. Finney professor of theology, to be awarded the title of Charles G. Finney professor of theology, emeritus, and dean of the Divinity School, emeritus, effective June 1997.

In his almost 30 years at Vanderbilt, Forstman served as chair of the Graduate Department of Religion from 1969 to 1972, chair of the Faculty Senate in 1978-79 and dean of the Divinity School from 1979 to 1989.

As dean, Forstman enlarged support for the Divinity School in an era of high inflation and rapidly expanding costs. His work as a teacher and scholar in the history of Christian thought prepared him for the task of articulating the intellectual and religious foundations of the school. In 1993 Forstman received the Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service to Vanderbilt through extraordinary contributions as a member of the faculty and government of the University.

Paul Harrawood, Ph.D., professor of civil engineering, to be awarded the title of professor of civil engineering, emeritus, and dean of the School of Engineering, emeritus, effective June 1997.

Harrawood came to Vanderbilt in 1967 as associate dean, twice served as acting dean and, in 1978, was named dean. During his seven-year tenure, he increased administrative efficiency, communication, student enrollment, research productivity and morale within the school. Outside funded research rose from $750,000 to $4.5 million during his final year.

In 1986 Harrawood resigned as dean and returned to teaching in the department of civil and environmental engineering. He introduced numerous innovations into his senior courses to prepare students for the professional engineering environment beyond graduation.

Barry D. Lichter, Sc.D., professor of mechanical engineering, professor of materials science and professor of management of technology, to be awarded the title of professor of mechanical engineering, emeritus, professor of materials science, emeritus, and professor of management of technology, emeritus, effective June 1997.

Lichter came to Vanderbilt as an associate professor of mechanical engineering in 1968 and was promoted to full professor in 1972. A noted authority in thermodynamics and electrochemistry, Lichter related the consequences of science and technology to general society.

A member of numerous University committees, Lichter chaired the Faculty Senate in 1986 and 1987. Active in community service, he co-founded the "Rap House" Crisis Intervention Center and served on Nashville's Human Relations Commission.

Lichter also was a fellow of the National Project on Philosophy and Engineering Ethics, the National Humanities faculty and the Netherlands Organization for Science.

Milan Mihal, Ph.D., associate professor of fine arts, to be awarded the title of professor of fine arts, emeritus, effective June 1997.

Since joining Vanderbilt in 1968, Mihal worked to increase the University's Far Eastern Art slide collection from about 300 to 30,000 images, making it one of the finest of its kind in the nation. To share the Asian art collection, Mihal curated 11 exhibitions at Vanderbilt and several at the Cheekwood Museum of Art and the Cumberland Science Museum. He has led international tours and lectured nationwide to alumni groups in connection with special exhibitions and received the Alumni Association Education Award in 1992.

In 1975 he received the Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Teaching. He was also recently honored with an award for his service to the Asian-American Students Association.

David A. Nunnally, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, to be awarded the title of professor of biology, emeritus, effective June 1997.

A member of the faculty since 1960, Nunnally received numerous research grants from the National Institutes of Health. After receiving the Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for teaching in 1966, Nunnally made a total commitment to teaching and service to students in the College of Arts and Science. He served as director of undergraduate studies the past several years and, last year, received the Earnest Jones Undergraduate Advisor Award.

He also served on numerous University committees including the Advisory Committee on Health Professions from 1974 to 1992, the Committee on Teacher Education for six years, the Board of Honor Council advisers for eight years and faculty adviser for the Skull and Bones Pre-Medical Society for 13 years.

Arthur L. Reesman, Ph.D., associate professor of geology, to be awarded the title of professor of geology, emeritus, effective June 1997.

Reesman joined Vanderbilt in 1968 and served as chair of the Department of Geology from 1976 to 1979. Reesman's research has focused on the chemical processes by which the Earth's surface is modified. Investigations include the geochemistry of clay minerals and water quality in Tennessee and faults and fractures in Tennessee and their relation to water flow and composition. His work in Tennessee led him to investigate the uplift of the southwestern U.S. that lay beneath Lake Bonneville during the last glacial episode.

For 18 years Reesman coordinated the Middle Tennessee Science Fair. He also served as director of undergraduate studies for the past 14 years. Reesman taught 10 courses at Vanderbilt, including his signature course, Marine and Coastal Environments.

Vernon H. Reynolds, M.D., professor of surgery, to be awarded the title of professor of surgery, emeritus, effective July 1997.

Reynolds began his premedical education at Vanderbilt in 1944 and because of military service, did not complete his medical education here until 1955.

After completing his residency in Boston, Reynolds returned to Vanderbilt in 1962 as a Markle Scholar in academic medicine and as an advanced clinical fellow of the American Cancer Society.

During the last 30 years, individuals from all over the world have come to study and work with Reynolds, particularly those interested in malignant melanoma. Realizing that surgery was not sufficient, Reynolds pioneered the development of an Ambulatory Chemotherapy Service. His development of infusion catheters for cancer chemotherapy and his delineation of the place of adjuvant therapy for cutaneous melanoma, in addition to surgery, has become the standard around the world.

Joseph C. Ross, M.D., associate vice chancellor for health affairs and professor of medicine, to be awarded the title of associate vice chancellor for health affairs, emeritus, and professor of medicine, emeritus, effective July 1997.

Since his graduation from the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in 1954, Ross has established himself as a world leader in academic medicine. Although his training in pulmonary medicine and his research in pulmonary physiology were done largely at other institutions, Ross' service as vice chancellor at Vanderbilt made him invaluable to the medical center during a period of rapid development.

Ross has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the American Board of Internal Medicine, president and member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Chest Physicians, a member of the National Academy of Sciences Space Sciences Board and was appointed by former President Nixon to the National Advisory Panel on Heart Diseases.

James J. Wert, Ph.D., George A. Sloan professor of metallurgy and professor of mechanical engineering, to be awarded the title of George A. Sloan professor of metallurgy, emeritus, and professor of mechanical engineering, emeritus, effective June 1997.

During his 35 years at Vanderbilt, Wert established the M.S. and Ph.D. programs in materials science and engineering. He contributed to the proposal that led to a $4.9 million Olin Foundation grant to fund construction of Olin Hall.

Revered by students, Wert received the Tau Beta Pi award for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence in 1971 and 1978. He also was instrumental in organizing the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering Center for Materials Tribiology, which helps attract industrial associate members. Wert was elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Metals.