Distinguished Honors Faculty program welcomes 2012-13 participants, recognizes outgoing members
8/30/2012
Fifteen Penn State faculty members have been selected for the Schreyer Honors College’s Distinguished Honors Faculty Program for the 2012-13 academic year. Participating faculty were introduced at a welcome reception held this morning in Atherton Hall. During the event, participants outlined programs they will be conducting during the coming year and four outgoing members were recognized.
The Distinguished Honors Faculty Program, launched in 2010, brings together faculty members and Schreyer Scholars for discussions, dinners, field trips and other events. The programs, which are funded through private support directed toward the Honors College, reflect the faculty members’ academic expertise, research focus or personal interests. Faculty members typically are selected for a two-year term in the program.
Faculty returning for the 2012-13 academic year include:
- Dr. Mark Brennan, associate professor of leadership development, College of Agricultural Sciences
- Dr. Gary Cross, distinguished professor of modern history, College of the Liberal Arts
- Dr. Emily Grosholz, professor of philosophy, African American studies, and English, College of the Liberal Arts
- Dr. Rick Jacobs, professor of psychology, College of the Liberal Arts
- Dr. James Lyon, professor of music, College of Arts and Architecture
- Dr. Ralph Oliva, professor of marketing, Smeal College of Business
- Dr. Troy Ott, professor of reproductive physiology, College of Agricultural Sciences
- Dr. Willa Silverman, professor of French and Jewish studies
- Dr. Anne Whitney, assistant professor of education, College of Education
Six faculty members are joining the program this year. The newcomers include:
- Dr. David Cranage, associate professor of hotel, restaurant, and institutional management, College of Health and Human Development
- Dr. Peter Heaney, professor of geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Dr. Ann Killebrew, associate professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, Jewish studies, and anthropology, College of the Liberal Arts
- Dr. Song Tan, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Eberly College of Science
- Dr. Conrad Tucker, assistant professor of engineering design, College of Engineering
- Dr. Robert Weaver, professor of agricultural economics, College of Agricultural Sciences
Four faculty members whose terms have concluded were recognized for having been among the program's first participants when it was launched:
- Dr. Philip Bevilacqua, professor of chemistry, Eberly College of Science
- Dr. Keefe Manning, associate professor of bioengineering, College of Engineering
- Dr. Mark Sciegaj, associate professor of health policy and administration
- Dr. Darrell Velegol, professor of chemical engineering, College of Engineering
More than 50 programs have been scheduled for the fall semester. Programs announced include:
- a tour of Penn State’s waste management sites as part of a discussion on sustainable design
- a discussion on the role of archaeology and heritage in the 21st century
- a discussion with a corporate recruiter on job search strategies
- a trip to New York City for a walking tour of three urban parks
- a discussion on the ethics of buying a diamond
- a farm tour looking at poultry production in Pennsylvania
- a performance by the visiting Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio
- dinner discussions on topics such as the correlation between technology and happiness, political discourse in the Information Age, and immigration policy and realities along the U.S./Mexico border
The programs are offered at no cost to Scholars.
For more information about the Schreyer Honors College’s Distinguished Honors Faculty Program, contact Dr. Arun Upneja, associate dean for academic affairs, at SHCAssocDean@psu.edu.