March 1-3, 2006

ITEM 130-2001-R0306    Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Cell Biology and Neuroscience upon James A. McMillan; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT: Upon the occasion of the retirement of James A. McMillan from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University System, and the people of the State of Montana.

EXPLANATION: Dr. James A. McMillan was hired by MSU in 1973 to teach physiology in the new WAMI Program and in the former Department of Biology. He worked his way through the academic ranks and was promoted to Full Professor in 1988. In 1991 he began 12 years of administrative service to the College of Letters of Science, beginning with 4 years as Associate Dean and then 8 years as Dean. He returned to the faculty in 2003 and retired in May of 2005.

Dr. McMillan received several teaching awards from the WAMI Program, including the Outstanding Basic Science Teaching Award for the entire University of Washington School of Medicine in 1990. He served on grant review panels for the National Science Foundation and the American Heart Association, and served as Chair of the Idaho/Montana Affiliate of the American Heart Association for one year.

Dr. McMillan has been PI or co-PI on research grants totaling more than $5.2 million from the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. These grants not only supported his own neurophysiological research, but also helped other neuroscientists at MSU develop their programs. Included in the latter group was a grant from the National Science Foundation to establish the successful Center for Computational Biology at MSU. Also included are grants that have supported Native American students at MSU to work in faculty members= research laboratories.

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon James A. McMillan the rank of Professor Emeritus of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.