Schreyer Honors College, Penn State

This is my new blog for the Schreyer Honors College of the Pennsylvania State University. I will use this venue to share with students, past, present, and future, about events and news from SHC, but most of all as a place for me to share with you my thoughts on honors education at Penn State (and occasionally more general comments as well). For the latest news be sure to see the links (soon to be updated) at the right or go directly to our SHC News page. In the meantime, I thought I would share with you my comments I made to the University Board of Trustees upon my appointment.

It is indeed a distinct honor to be the next Dean of Schreyer Honors College. SHC is widely recognized as the premier honors program in the nation and I look forward to the challenge of building upon its tremendous strengths.

Much of what first drew me to Schreyer Honors College was that its mission confirmed my own convictions. Most honors programs emphasize primarily enabling their students to achieve academic excellence and successful competitions for national scholarships such as the Rhodes or the Marshall. I believe that a person of honor is someone who not only achieves academic distinction but is also a person of noble character. SHC’s emphasis is upon creating scholars who are not simply outstanding academicians but are complete individuals who will contribute to their communities and the world. SHC fosters the development of men and women who not only possess honors but also are honorable themselves.

I also believe that SHC is unique in emphasizing the success of our students based upon their goals and aspirations. Whereas most honors programs, as I have said, demonstrate their success by stating how many Rhodes scholars they have and what graduate schools they were accepted into, Schreyer Honors College can rightly boast about how many scholars are teaching in public schools, are in the Peace Corps, or are engaged in business and agriculture.

Penn State offers a breadth and depth of education unlike most any institution in the world [my boyhood memories of being involved in 4-H and FFA have come flooding back!] and the Schreyer Honors College is in a great position to foster, encourage, and engage students from across the disciplines. I am thrilled to be a part of this family [my brother and his wife, both PSU alumni, say that now I truly am part of "the family"] and to have the opportunity to guide and build upon the success that is Schreyer Honors College by recruiting the best students in the nation to come to Penn State, to enhance their educational experience (both inside the classroom and out) which will, in turn, enhance that of all Penn State students, and to help form truly honorable citizens.

Once again, thank you for this great honor.