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Black
Literature Center: Dr. Awkward
Dr. Michael Awkward, professor of English, has been named director of the Center for the Study of Black Literature and Culture. He succeeds the founding director, Dr. Houston F. Baker, who is now professor of English at Duke University.
"Michael has a clear and thoughtful vision for building on the Center's tradition of scholarly excellence in black cultural studies," said SAS Dean Samuel Preston in announcing the appointment. "We are excited about his plans and look forward to seeing him bring them to fruition."
Dr. Awkward, who graduated cum laude from Brandeis University in 1980, came to Penn for his M.A. (1982) and his Ph.D., awarded in 1986. He then joined the faculty of the University of Michigan as an assistant professor, was promoted to tenure in 1990, and by 1995 he was full professor of English and Afro-American and African Studies there. He also headed Michigan's Center for Afro-American and African Studies for three years, 1993-96, and served on Michigan's Faculty Senate as well as on numerous committees there.
He became widely known for his writing on contemporary black literature
and criticism, with special emphasis on gender issues, publishing numerous
articles and several major books during his Michigan years. Among these
are Negotiating Difference: Inspiriting Influences: Tradition, Revision,
and Afro-American Women's Novels (Columbia 1989, also issued in Japanese
by Sairyusha in 1993) and Negotiating Difference: Race, Gender and the
Politics of Positionality (Chicago 1995). He also edited New Essays
on Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1990 as part of Cambridge
University Press's series on "The American Novel." In progress
are Shores of Knowing: Writing a Black Male Life and, with Nicole
Brittingham, "Ah Save de Text for You": Reading Afro-American
Literary Traditions, 1975-1995.
Penn
Health Senior VP Administration: Dr. Ferniany
Dr. William N. Kelley, Dean of Medicine and CEO of the Penn Health System, has appointed to the newly created position of Senior Vice President for Administrative Services Dr. I. William Ferniany, who has been senior vice president for professional services.
In his new post Dr. Ferniany oversees marketing, medical affairs, information Services,telecommunications, human resources, facilities, venture and industry relations, and support services, which includes liaison to Penn Tower, Dr. Kelley noted.
He is also responsible for the subspecialty networks, affiliates, and clinical service groups, as well for the PennMed satellites at Radnor and Limerick. He remains acting director of the Clinical Practices (CPUP) of the University of Pennsylvania until a new executive director is named.
"Those of you who have worked with Will in his various UPHS roles over the years are well aware of his creative resourcefulness and his wide-ranging experience," said Dr. Kelley. "He has been, in short, a person who gets the job done. We are confident that he will be a valuable contributor in helping us solve the challenges now facing us."
Dr. Ferniany came to Penn in 1992 from the University of Alabama, where he took his three degrees--a B.S. in manpower and industrial relations in 1973, M.S. in hospital and health administration in 1975, and Ph.D. in administration and health services in 1984, when he was vice president for planning and development at Healthcare Services of America. He was later CEO of HAS's Hill Crest Hospital before returning to his alma mater in 1998.
Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 4, September 21, 1999
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