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Four new Regents Professors named by University of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 6/25/2008 ) -- Four University of Minnesota professors have been named Regents Professors by the university's Board of Regents. The designation is the highest level of recognition given to faculty by the university. They are physics professor Allen Goldman, history professor Steven Ruggles, geography professor Eric Sheppard and English professor Madelon Sprengnether. "Year after year, Regents Professors represent the best and brightest in their fields, and this year's selection is no exception," said University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks. "Their bold discoveries and commitment to excellence across a wide range of disciplines embody the mission and aspirations of a world-class research and land-grant university." The addition of the new Regents Professors increases the total number of current Regents Professorships to 27. "Our new distinguished group of Regents Professors are exemplars of the academic excellence that abounds at the University of Minnesota," said Provost Thomas Sullivan. "Throughout their careers, professors Goldman, Ruggles, Sheppard and Sprengnether have produced outstanding academic contributions, engaged their students in the classroom and provided exceptional service, thereby enhancing the reputation of the University of Minnesota. It is a privilege to honor this group." More about the Regents Professors and their research: Allen Goldman (Institute of Technology) Goldman, an Institute of Technology Distinguished professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy, has been described by his colleagues around the world as a "towering giant in the field of condensed matter physics," and "one of the premier experimentalists in the field worldwide." For the past 43 years at the university, he has conducted groundbreaking research in three areas of condensed matter physics, which include superconductivity, low-dimensional electronics systems and the superconducting-metal-insulator transition. His record of service to the university and larger scientific community is extensive. He played a seminal role in the creation of the Theoretical Physics Institute, served as head of the school of physics and astronomy, organized countless scientific conferences and served on a number of panels in his field and on visiting committees at other universities and laboratories. In the classroom, he is considered a charismatic teacher and an extraordinary mentor. Steven Ruggles (College of Liberal Arts) Ruggles is a professor of history, director of the Minnesota Population Center and Distinguished McKnight Professor in the College of Liberal Arts. At the university since 1985, he has emerged as one of the most widely known historical demographers in the world. Colleagues describe him as a "scholar of astonishing breadth of knowledge and productivity whose work has reshaped the field of historical demography and has had a profound effect on the fields of sociology, economics and history." He has helped raise approximately $65 million in research funds to create, improve and disseminate population data. At the Center, he and his team have collected, coded, computerized, systematized and delivered to scholars the individual records of millions of Americans going back to 1850. It is considered one of the most valuable databases of all time and has made the University of Minnesota one of the largest social science data distributors in the world. He is known as an extraordinary teacher who has had a profound impact on undergraduate and graduate education. Eric Sheppard (College of Liberal Arts) Sheppard, a professor of geography in the College of Liberal Arts, is described by his colleagues as a "towering intellect, a universally admired educator and a highly respected leader." His contributions are recognized globally and have transformed the core understanding of the space economy, urban transformation, regional development, globalization and geographic science. He is credited with bringing the university's Department of Geography to a top-three national status. Considered to be one of the worlds leading geographers, he is the author of cutting-edge graduate and undergraduate textbooks, which have become key sources in classrooms around the world. His contributions to the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change have made him a vital part in internationalizing the university. He has helped organize numerous international conferences and has been a keynote, plenary lecturer or invited lecturer in more than 130 conferences or universities across the globe. With his students, he is considered a successful advisor and a trusted mentor. Madelon Sprengnether (College of Liberal Arts) Sprengnether, a professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts, is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar in the field of literature, women's studies and psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis the study of human psychological functioning and behavior and a powerful tool in analyzing literature. Her work is described as "profoundly creative, original, interdisciplinary and transformative." Her book, "The Sprectral Mother," is described as a "landmark" publication and is said to be one of the most important books ever published about Sigmund Freud's life and thought. She is considered an authority on Shakespeare, and her 1986 essay "'I wooed thee with my sword:' Shakespeare's Tragic Paradigms," was considered so powerful and influential that is was reprinted five times and has been read by thousands of students and scholars. Outside the classroom, Sprengnether has participated in numerous promotion and tenure faculty reviews, presented hundreds of papers and lectures and showcased her work and the university through many media interviews across the globe. The Regents Professor position was established in 1965 by the Board of Regents to recognize the national and international prominence of faculty members. It serves as the highest recognition for faculty who have made unique contributions to the quality of the University of Minnesota through exceptional accomplishments in teaching, research and scholarship or creative work, and contributions to the public good. ---------- |
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