Regents approve renovation project at Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station

The Board of Regents has approved a major renovation project for the University of Michigan’s Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station, located near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The project calls for the construction of a new one-story, approximately 5,000-gross-square-foot modern dining hall for students and visitors, and a new one-story, approximately 1,800-gross-square-foot administrative/classroom facility. This comprehensive upgrade will enhance both the learning environment and research capabilities for students. The 120-acre facility, established in 1929, offers courses in geology, environmental science, and the humanities, and is also used for academic conferences, alumni gatherings, and guest programs. Construction on the $9.2 million project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2027. 

Regents approve lease for Washington, D.C., property

The University of Michigan will move ahead with plans to establish a new facility in Washington, D.C., after receiving approval from the Board of Regents. As part of the $9 million project, the university will lease approximately 11,614 square feet of space to create purpose-built educational facilities to support a variety of its educational, engagement, and development programming. The project allows the university to better serve the growing community of alumni on the East Coast. Construction is scheduled to be completed in fall 2026. 

Lease approved for office space in Ann Arbor

The Board of Regents approved plans for the university to proceed with leasehold improvements for more than 52,000 square feet of space at 1000 Victors Way in Ann Arbor. The space allows the university to relocate several departments into modern office spaces and will be utilized for a variety of administrative services. The estimated cost of the project is $3,500,000, with funding to be provided from central reserves. Construction is scheduled to be completed in spring 2026.

— Public Affairs

Ann Arbor campus

Faculty appointments with tenure

Michael Deininger, professor of internal medicine, Medical School, Nov. 1, 2025.

Rebecca Dizon-Ross, associate professor of economics, LSA, Aug. 25, 2026.

Nazita Lajevardi, associate professor of political science, LSA, Aug. 25, 2026.

Derek N. Mueller, professor of English language and literature, LSA, Jan. 1, 2026.

Vaibhav Sahai, associate professor of internal medicine, Medical School, Nov. 1, 2025.

Named professorships

Filip Bednar, Maud T. Lane Research Professor of Surgical Oncology, Medical School, Oct. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2030.

*Michael M. Bernitsas, Mortimer E. Cooley Collegiate Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, College of Engineering, Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2031.

Juan R. Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Distinguished University Professor of History, Sept. 1, 2025.

Jason Corso, Toyota Professor of Artificial Intelligence, College of Engineering, Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030.

Christian Davenport, Charles Tilly Distinguished University Professor of Political Science, Sept. 1, 2025.

Parag B. Deotare, Chen-Luan Family Faculty Development Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030.

Kathryn M. Dominguez, Marina von Neumann Whitman Distinguished University Professor of Public Policy, Sept. 1, 2025.

Karthikeyan Duraisamy, Arthur B. Modine Professor of Engineering, College of Engineering, Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030.

Mark A. Ilgen, Albert J. Silverman, M.D., C.M. Research Professor of Psychiatric Disorders, Medical School, Oct. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2030.

John Jonides, Edward E. Smith Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Sept. 1, 2025.

Kenneth M. Langa, A. Regula Herzog Distinguished University Professor of Internal Medicine and Survey Research, Sept. 1, 2025.

Caitlin Lynch, Norma L. Heyde Faculty Development Professor of Voice & Opera, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Sept. 1, 2025, through May 31, 2030.

Manjunath P. Pai, Chung-Chiang and Fung-Hwa Hsu Professor, College of Pharmacy, Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030.

Paul W. Rhode, William James Adams Collegiate Professor of Economics, LSA, Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2030.

Katye Spector-Bagdady, George E. Wantz Research Professor of Bioethics, Medical School, Oct. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2030.

Anna G. Stefanopoulou, Huei Peng Distinguished University Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Sept. 1, 2025.

Administrative appointments

Kimberly Kiernan, vice president for facilities and operations, Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sept. 1, 2025.

*Chris Kolb, vice president for government relations, Office of the Vice President for Government Relations

Douglas C. Noll, interim chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Medical School, Jan. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2026.

Other transactions

Alfred O. Hero III, extension of intergovernmental personnel assignment leave of absence, Sept. 26, 2025, through Sept. 25, 2026.

*Reappointments

Retirements 

Laura Cooling, clinical professor of pathology, Medical School, Aug. 15, 2025. Cooling received her M.D. (1989), followed by a clinical pathology residency (1993), a transfusion medicine fellowship (1994), and a master’s in pathology (1996) from the University of Iowa. She joined U-M in 2000 as an assistant clinical professor and was promoted to associate clinical professor (2007), then clinical professor (2017). She was named to the National Blood Foundation Hall of Fame by the American Association of Blood Banks in 2017. She was also named as a Top Scholar by Doximity (top 5%) and ScholarGPS (top 0.5%) in 2024. Her 80-page seminal monograph, Blood Groups in Infection and Host Susceptibility, has 713 citations and 153,431 downloads to date. She has contributed over 40 chapters in leading hematology and pathology textbooks and is the major contributor for “Key Concepts in Transfusion Medicine 1st edition”, a textbook for pathology trainees. She co-authored“Practical Guide to Transfusion Medicine” and is the sole author of “Stem Cell Collection, Infusion, and Transfusion Support: A Primer.” She received the American Society for Apheresis Lecturer Award, and, in 2019, was awarded the AABB President’s Award. She was the first recipient of the Clinical Pathology Undergraduate Medical Educator Award.

Perry G. Pernicano, clinical associate professor of radiology, Medical School, Oct. 31, 2025. Pernicano earned a B.S. in biomedical sciences (1981) and M.D. (1984) from U-M. He completed his residency in diagnostic radiology (1988) and a fellowship in computed tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (1989) at William Beaumont Hospital. He joined U-M as an instructor of radiology (1989), then transitioned to clinical instructor (1996). He was promoted to clinical assistant professor (1997) and clinical associate professor (2024). Pernicano accepted a joint appointment at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (1990), where he cared for veterans for 32 years. He served as assistant chief of the radiology service at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (1992-2006), acting chief (2006) and chief (2008). Pernicano is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American College of Radiology, the Michigan Radiological Society, and the Association of Academic Radiologists. He has held multiple positions on the board of trustees at Michigan Radiological Society, including as president (2019-20). Pernicano is secretary of the Michigan Radiological Society Foundation board of directors, was named a fellow of the American College of Radiology (2009) and was awarded the gold medal of the Michigan Radiological Society (2024). He was also awarded commendations for excellence in medical student education 12 times.

James R. Sayer, research scientist, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, College of Engineering, Sept. 30, 2025. Sayer received a B.S. in biopsychology from U-M (1988) and both an M.S. in industrial and systems engineering (1991) and a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering (1993) from Virginia Tech. He joined U-M as an assistant research scientist (1993), was promoted to associate research scientist (2008), and to research scientist (2012). In 2016, Sayer became the director of UMTRI, serving in that role for nine years. Sayer has held adjunct appointments in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He also held several service roles at U-M, including chair of the Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board. Sayer’s research was focused on transportation safety, particularly how humans interact with various elements of vehicles and the transportation system. He oversaw several of the first modern-day field operational tests of driver assistance systems. He was the principal investigator on approximately $90 million of sponsored research at U-M. He is perhaps best known for conceiving of and designing the U-M’s test facility for autonomous and connected vehicles on North Campus, known as Mcity. As director of UMTRI, he initiated the movement of the institute from the Office of the Vice President for Research to the College of Engineering.

Jianming Xiang, associate research scientist, neurosurgery in the Crosby Neurosurgical Laboratories, Medical School, Aug. 31, 2025. Xiang received his M.D. from Kunming Medical College (1982). He joined U-M as a research assistant II (1991), and was promoted to research associate I (1992), research associate II (1996), senior research associate (2002), research investigator (2004), assistant research scientist (2011) and associate research scientist (2017).  Xiang has extensive experience in the choroid plexus (blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier) and the blood-brain barrier, and particularly ion, amino acid and drug transport. He has over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles. Xiang was the co-investigator on five RO1 grants. He has mentored over 15 students and postdoctoral fellows.  

— Compiled by Genevieve Monsma, The University Record