Charles F. Yocum, Ph.D., the Alfred S. Sussman Distinguished University Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, and professor of chemistry, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, retired from active faculty status on May 31, 2010.

Professor Yocum earned his B.S. degree from Iowa State University in 1963, his M.S. degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1968, and his Ph.D. degree from Indiana University in 1971. Following post-doctoral training at Cornell University, he joined the University of Michigan faculty as assistant professor in 1973, and was promoted to associate professor in 1978 and professor in 1983. He was appointed the Alfred S. Sussman Collegiate Professor of Biology in 1998 and the Alfred S. Sussman Distinguished University Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology in 2004.

Professor Yocum's research in molecular bioenergetics involves characterizing the oxygen evolution reaction catalyzed by a photosynthetic enzyme, called photosystem II, in plants and algae. He was the first to isolate the enzyme in pure, highly active form. He then exploited this breakthrough to identify the inorganic ion cofactors of the reaction, and to determine the functions of several of the proteins that make up the enzyme. His method for the isolation of this enzyme was employed by many other groups, and has served as the basis for numerous advancements in our understanding of the structure and operation of the photosynthetic apparatus.

Professor Yocum taught introductory to graduate level courses in both biology and chemistry. He chaired the Department of Biology from 1985-91, chaired the committee that formulated the current biochemistry concentration, and was an undergraduate concentration advisor. Professor Yocum received numerous honors, including the Henry Russel Award (1978) and the Margaret and Herbert Sokol Faculty Award in the Sciences (1999). Professor Yocum is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The Regents now salute this distinguished faculty member for his dedicated service by naming Charles F. Yocum the Alfred S. Sussman Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, professor emeritus of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, and professor emeritus of chemistry.