University News

Two University of Memphis professors have been named the inaugural recipients of the First Tennessee Bank Professorship. Dr. Gloria Baxter and Dr. Carl Halford were recognized with the professorships at the University's recent Faculty Convocation.

Baxter, a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, has been a member of the U of M faculty for 40 years. During that time, she has helped the University's theatre program achieve a national reputation. She also has won international attention since she co-authored a one-woman show at the Edinburgh International Festival. Recognized worldwide for her stage adaptations and her skills as a playwright, Baxter is a past recipient of the University's Faculty Research Grant in the Creative Arts.

Halford, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, has provided significant service to the University during his 35-year tenure. He leads his department and the Herff College of Engineering in maintaining a quality research program. Halford also is recognized for his teaching, advising, and mentoring skills. His many achievements include the Herff College Outstanding Research Award, Outstanding Engineering Professor, and the Distinguished Research Award.

The First Tennessee Professorships were established earlier this year as part of a partnership between the First Tennessee Foundation and the U of M to help the University recruit and retain outstanding faculty and to support economic and financial literacy programs.

The University of Memphis, founded in 1912, is a metropolitan research university. Comprising 200 buildings on four sites covering 1,160 acres, it has a student population of approximately 20,000, with a faculty and staff numbering about 2,500. A member of the Tennessee Board of Regents System, the U of M is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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