Greenville Native, Former DNI Mike McConnell Joins Furman University Board
April 28, 2009Trustees approve faculty promotions, tenure during spring meeting Saturday, April 25
GREENVILLE, SC – April 28, 2009 – The Furman University Board of Trustees heard that six new members will join the board beginning July 1, including former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Mike McConnell.
Furman’s board held its spring meeting Saturday.
McConnell, a native of Greenville and a 1966 Furman graduate, served as DNI under President George W. Bush. He is currently senior vice president with Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, Va.
The other new trustees are David L. Hauser of Cramerton, N.C., Robert E. Hill, Jr., of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Carl F. Kohrt of Powell, Ohio. Hauser is group vice president and chief financial officer of Duke Energy Company in Charlotte. Hill is president and chief executive officer of Acosta Sales and Marketing Company in Jacksonville, Fla., and Kohrt is the retired president and CEO of Battelle in Columbus, Ohio.
Hauser is a 1973 Furman graduate, while Hill graduated in 1983 and Kohrt in 1965. Kohrt has previously served on the board, including a term as chair.
The board also elected Emilyn Sanders of Greenville and Charles H. Townes of Berkeley, Calif., as emeritus trustees.
In other action, the trustees approved promotions and/or tenure for 12 faculty members, and granted emeritus status to three retiring professors.
Robert L. Underwood (Business and Accounting) received tenure. Those tenured and promoted to the rank of associate professor were Eli V. Hestermann (Biology), Cynthia P. King (Communication Studies), Weston R. Dripps (Earth and Environmental Sciences) and Kevin R. Hutson (Mathematics).
Those promoted to the rank of professor were Christopher Blackwell (Classics), Dennis C. Haney (Biology), Richard Letteri (Communication Studies), Daniel M. Koppelman (Music) and C. Danielle Vinson (Political Science).
Those promoted to the rank of associate librarian were Christine Ferguson and Debbilee Landi.
Emeritus status was granted to professors John Alan Snyder (Biology), Robin Ellen Visel (English) and Long Xu (Modern Languages and Literatures and Asian Studies).
All promotions, tenure and emeritus status become effective Aug. 1.
The board also recognized three trustees whose terms will expire June 30. Those leaving the board are John C. Cothran of Greenville, Douglas K. Freeman of Jacksonville, Fla., and James L. Hamrick of Spartanburg.
For more information, contact Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.