2008 Faculty Scholars Selected

Twenty-four community college faculty members have been selected as Faculty Scholars for the 2008 Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Scholar Conference, an interdisciplinary honors training program, and the International Honors Institute, a week-long honors education opportunity for students and faculty.

The 2008 Faculty Scholars include:

Dr. Kenneth Kerr
Frederick Community College
Frederick, Md.
Academic Field: English
2008 Parnell Scholar

Dr. Randy Allison
Blinn College - Bryan
Bryan, Texas
Academic Field: Anthropology

Janet Asay
Treasure Valley Community College
Ontario, Ore.
Academic Field: English/Speech

Dan Bailey
Ashland Community and Technical College
Ashland, Ky.
Academic Field: Agriculture/Counseling/Leadership Studies

James Blair
Central Alabama Community College
Alexander City, Ala.
Academic Field: Mathematics

Christine Bush
Palm Beach Community College
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Academic Field: Mathematics

Cindy Carbone
Edison Community College
Piqua, Ohio
Academic Field: English Composition/Literature

Rob Carey
Pima Community College
Tucson, Ariz.
Academic Field: Biology

Eric Chong
Guam Community College
Barrigada, Guam
Academic Field: Tourism/Hospitality

Laurie Freeman
Fulton - Montgomery Community College
Johnstown, N.Y.
Academic Field: Biology

Lori Garrett
Danville Area Community College
Danville, Ill.
Academic Field: Science

Dr. Betsy Hertzler
Mesa Community College
Mesa, Ariz.
Academic Field: History

David Larkin
Paris Junior College
Greenville, Texas
Academic Field: American and World History/US and Texas Government

Nora Lee
Northwest Shoals Community College
Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Academic Field: Psychology/Counseling

Dan Leingang
Bismarck State College
Bismark, N.D.
Academic Field: Mathematics

Nancy Long
Trinity Valley Community College
Athens, Texas
Academic Field: Mathematics

Dr. Michael Miller
Arizona Western College
Yuma, Ariz.
Academic Field: English

Sarah Nichols
Hinds Community College
Vicksburg, Miss.
Academic Field: Psychology

Ruth Randall
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kan.
Academic Field: Business

Robin Rich-Coates
Eastern Shore Community College
Melfa, Va.
Academic Field: Science/Biology/Chemistry

Paul Roscelli
Canada College
Redwood City, Calif.
Academic Field: Economics/Law

Linda Tetzlaff
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minn.
Academic Field: English

Dr. David Wallace
St. Catharine College
St. Catharine, Ky.
Academic Field: History

Billy Wilson
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Miss.
Academic Field: English

These individuals were selected from a large pool of applicants. Applicants must be Phi Theta Kappa advisors who have exhibited exceptional knowledge of the 2008-2010 Honors Study Topic, The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consequences, and demonstrated excellence in teaching.

The Faculty Scholar Conference, sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, was held at Phi Theta Kappa's Center for Excellence in Jackson, Mississippi, January 30 - February 3. The Faculty Scholar Conference prepares the Faculty Scholars to serve as group facilitators at the Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Institute. Faculty Scholars heard presentations on a variety of issues concerning the paradox of affluence and participated in discussion groups throughout the three-day conference in addition to having the opportunity to visit the Mississippi Museum of Art. Presenters not previously certified in Phi Theta Kappa's humanities-based Leadership Studies program also received this training in preparation for their facilitator roles. Presentations for the conference included:

"Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies: A Humanities Approach - Certification Seminar Part I" - Monika Byrd and Dr. Jo Marshall, Presenters

"The Paradox of Affluence: Whither Africa," - Ambassador David Shinn, Presenter (The Marshall Lecture)

"The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast" - Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Presenter (The Kesler Lecture)

"The Overworked and Overspent American: The Paradox of Affluence" - Dr. Juliet Schor, Presenter (The Val and Howard Hampton Memorial Lecture)

The annual International Honors Institute will be held at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in San Francisco, California June 16-21, 2008. During this conference the Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Scholars will lead groups of 15-20 honor students in seminar discussions of the issues presented throughout the week.

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, MS, is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,250 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than two million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 100,000 students inducted annually.

For more information on the 2008 Faculty Scholars and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Programs, contact Susan Edwards, Director of Honors Programs at 800.946.9995, ext. 3541.