Radford University names inaugural class of Honors Academy Faculty Fellows

The Radford University Honors Academy announced its first cohort of Faculty Fellows.

The five faculty members represent the first of eight appointees who, according to Niels Christensen, associate director of the Honors Academy and professor of psychology, will teach honors classes, participate in honors co-curricular events and advise and mentor honors students. Honors Academy Faculty Fellows serve three-year terms and appointments will be staggered annually.

The inaugural Honors Academy Faculty Fellows are:

  • Guy Axtel, associate professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Jason Davis, assistant professor of biology
  • Eric DuPlessis, professor of foreign language and literature
  • Kurt Gingrich, associate professor of history
  • Neil Sigmon, associate professor of mathematics and statistics

To begin an appointment in Summer 2016 is:

  • Justin Anderson, associate professor of biology

"The Faculty Fellows will make the Honors Academy a more vibrant and engaging community," said Christensen. "They come from across the academic spectrum and provide diverse perspectives. Recognized as outstanding teachers and mentors, the Faculty Fellows exemplify the faculty-student bond that lies at the core of the honors experience at RU."

One of RU's portfolio of high-impact practices, the Honors Academy is a community of approximately 400 motivated and intellectually mature students. Honors Academy students, or Highlander Scholars, have small classes that are capped at 20 students and have a residential space in Floyd Hall. Floyd has classrooms where many of the honors courses are held, to develop a rich sense of community among the Honors Academy students and faculty.

In addition to the required 15 credit hours of honors-designated courses, Highlander Scholars work with their professors like the Faculty Fellows to transform nine credit hours of courses, study abroad opportunities, independent studies and seminars into honors-level learning. To round out the Honors Academy course of study, Highlander Scholars complete senior capstone projects.

Dec 16, 2014