Historical Naming

The committee advises the President of the University on matters relating to names presently on and in University buildings that require historical consultation, sensitivity, and expertise. The Office of the President determines which matters should come to the committee as issues of this nature arise and require advice and recommendations. As a general approach, the committee will provide the President a report that discusses the issue in question regarding past honorific naming and the impact of various approaches on the University’s appreciation and maintenance of its history and traditions, as well as recommendations of actions for consideration, if any.

Honorific Naming

The committee provides counsel to the President on proposals for honorific naming of University facilities and spaces requiring Regental approval. In this capacity, the committee shall evaluate the merits of each proposal, while acknowledging the rarity of such honorific namings, to ensure compliance with the University’s 2008 Facilities, Spaces, and Streets Naming Policy and associated procedures. Such evaluations will include consideration of proposals that seek to recognize individuals whose exceptional contributions have shaped the University, as well as those that commemorate significant instances of University history and traditions. Upon conclusion of its review the committee will submit to the President a comprehensive report detailing its findings and recommendations.

Committee Membership:

Co-Chair – Alexis A. Antracoli, Director, Bentley Historical Library and Archivist 

Co-Chair – Lisa Carter, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries

Kristin Hass, Professor in the Department of American Culture and Faculty Coordinator of the Humanities Collaboratory, IHP representative

Aileen Das, Associate Professor of Classical Studies, Associate Professor of Middle East Studies, Associate Professor of Judaic Studies and Associate Professor of History, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, SACUA representative

Quinn Hunter, Assistant Professor of Art and Design, Penny W Stamps School of Art and Design, SACUA representative

Laura Lessnau, Assistant Vice President for News, Vice President for Communications, Michigan News

Patty Petrowski, Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel representative

Todd Baily, Associate Vice President for Development, Campaign Strategy and Initiatives, Office of University Development representative

Steve Yaros, Chief of Staff, Office of the President

Kimberly Kiernan, Co-Interim Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations

Professor Barbara Klein, Professor of Management Information Systems, Department of Information and Operations Management, College of Business, UM-Dearborn

Professor Thomas Henthorn, Dorothea E Wyatt Professor of United States History and Professor of History, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, University of Michigan-Flint

Student representatives (undergrad and graduate)

Katie Lynch, Health Infrastructure & Learning Systems, PhD Candidate

Shawn Kelly, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Political Science