Barbara A. Hamkalo, UC Irvine professor emerita of molecular biology and biochemistry, and Lyman W. Porter, professor emeritus of business, have been named Edward A. Dickson Emeriti Professors.

The endowed professorships, which are awarded annually for up to three years, support the research, teaching or service efforts of retired faculty members.

Hamkalo's area of research involves the molecular dissection of chromosomes to better understand how they function. Arriving at UCI as an assistant professor of biological sciences in 1973, she has a distinguished record as a professor and researcher in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. She has served as associate vice chancellor for research in the former Office of Research and Graduate Studies, associate dean for graduate studies and research in biological sciences, and acting dean of the School of Biological Sciences. She also has served as associate executive vice chancellor in charge of space and enrollment management, and is now vice chair of the UCI Emeritae/i Association.

With the endowment, Hamkalo will collaborate with Carolyn Boyd, dean of graduate studies, and Susan Bryant, vice chancellor for research, to develop a center for graduate students at UCI. "This center will provide all graduate students a common place to share ideas and experiences, as well as gather for academic, social and cultural activities," said Hamkalo. In addition, she will work to create a campuswide postdoctoral fellows office that will not only establish and monitor postdoctoral policies, but also become a hub for career development programs and other services.

Lyman W. Porter's major fields of interest are organizational psychology, management and management education. Porter arrived at UCI in 1967, and his research has focused on the fundamental aspects of employee-organizational relationships. He also has served as co-director of a project for the National Science Foundation examining this issue. Former dean of The Paul Merage School of Business, he is the author or co-author of 11 books and more than 80 articles in these fields. Elected offices include serving as president of The Academy of Management, recognized as the major worldwide scholarly organization for professors of management. Among honors received by Porter is the academy's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Organizational Behavior Division in 2006.

With the endowment, Porter will work with Andrew Policano, dean of the business school, and the business faculty to help strengthen the school's educational programs and research activities in international/global business. "The goal is to assist in developing plans to provide a more substantial and integrated approach to this important component of the school, and to provide students with enhanced educational opportunities that better prepare them for working in the increasingly cross-national world of business," said Porter.

The emeriti professorship endowment was established by Edward A. Dickson, who served as a regent of the University of California from 1913 to 1956, the longest tenure of any regent. It was established to award annual professorships to emeritus faculty in acknowledgment of high academic standing and long-term service to the university. In 2003, the Office of the President divided the fund principle into separate endowments dedicated to each campus.

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