Eminent Scholars Named Winners of Annual Faculty Research Award

May 08, 2015

Debra Major Adolphus Hailstork

In recognition of consistent levels of high achievement and creative research, Old Dominion eminent scholars Adolphus Hailstork and Debra Major were awarded the University's 31st annual Faculty Research Achievement Award on May 5.

Hailstork, a professor of music, and Debra Major, professor and associate chair of research for the Department of Psychology, were honored at the faculty awards and retirement dinner. The award is presented each spring to tenured faculty members who have exhibited consistent excellence in his or her research efforts. It seeks to recognize the accomplishments of faculty who achieve national prominence for high quality research and scholarship.

Hailstork joined the Department of Music in 2000 and was designated an eminent scholar in 2001. Since then, he has composed nearly 80 pieces of music ranging from opera to band, jazz to gospel and three symphonies, four operas, a piano concerto, chamber music, piano and organ pieces as well as larger works for chorus and orchestra. His work has been performed by the Virginia and Chicago symphonies, the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Hailstork has had a number of commissioned pieces and his works have been performed under leading conductors across the country. He has been recognized with the Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Governor's Award from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Arts and with honorary Ph.D. degrees from the College of William & Mary and Michigan State University.

Hailstork's music has been described as "a rich documentation of certain aspects of American life, particularly the African American experience." In her nomination letter, Annette Finley-Croswhite, professor of history, said his accomplishments are "multifaceted and include a level of creativity and exposure that is absolutely unique among faculty members at ODU."

Major has been a member of the Department of Psychology since 1992 and currently serves as associate chair for research. Her research in the field of Industrial Psychology has garnered support from the National Science Foundation, NASA, EVMS, and the Naval Air Warfare Center with over $3.6 million in grant funding during her time at the University. She has been designated an Eminent Scholar and has been recognized with fellow status in the top professional organizations for I/O Psychology: the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology, the Association for Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association.

In his nomination letter James Bliss, chair of psychology, said Major's scholarly record, "speaks volumes about her productivity, rigorousness and the impact on her scholarly field." He goes on to say that, "she has excelled in the research laboratory, the board meeting, the classroom and the public forum" and "her record clearly shines as an example of scholarly achievement."

The Office of Research facilitates the awards nomination process and works with the Faculty Senate's Committee on Scholarly Activity and Research which selects the winner(s). Honorees receive an award plaque and a check for $2,500.