Vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said the promotions acknowledged the hard work and commitment of the group, members of which came from across the university’s divisions.
“Not only do these promotions honour these individuals and shine a light on their work, they underscore the range of academic talent and expertise at Otago,’’ Prof Hayne said.
‘‘I will be following their future teaching, research and service achievements with interest.’’
The promotion process of the University of Otago involved evaluation of each individual’s record of contributions to research, teaching and service to the university and community. It also included evaluation from international experts about the candidates’ research contributions.
A further 44 academics will be promoted to associate professor and research associate professor.
The promotions take effect from February 1, 2021.
The staff promoted to professor are: Robert Aitken (marketing); Boris Baeumer (mathematics and statistics); Tim Cooper (theology); Sue Crengle (preventive and social medicine); Barbara Galland (women’s and children’s health); David Gwynne Jones (surgical sciences); Simon Hales (public health); Merilyn Hibma (pathology); David Jardine (general medicine); Roslyn Kemp (microbiology and immunology); Ping Liu (anatomy); Christoph Matthaei (zoology); Janice Murray (psychology); Dorothy Oorschot (anatomy); Chris Pemberton (medicine); Patricia Priest (preventive and social medicine); Anna Ranta (medicine); Bruce Russell (microbiology and immunology); Ben Schonthal (theology and religion); Mark Seymour (history); Faumuina Fa’afetai Sopoaga (health sciences); Janet Stephenson (centre for sustainability); Nicola Taylor (law); Maree Thyne (marketing); Paola Voci (languages and culture); Nicola Wheen (law).
