Denison University is holding its annual Named Chairs Convocation at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday (March 10) in Swasey Chapel. This is a college-wide convocation that honors faculty members who have recently been recognized as new holders of named chairs. The Denison faculty will march in academic regalia for this convocation, which is free and open to the public.

Some years ago the Task Force on Named Chairs set criteria for faculty members who are appointed to named chairs. The criteria are: the quality of the faculty member's contributions in scholarship, teaching and service to their students, the college and their discipline. Named chairs should be model teachers/scholars who have also made substantial contributions to the other purposes of the college.

Kent Maynard, director of the Honors Program and a professor of sociology/anthropology, will give the keynote address. President Dale T. Knobel will introduce the current chair holders as well as the newly named chair holders.

Faculty members who are being honored as the newly named chair holders are:

Gibson joined the Denison faculty in 1996. He earned both his bachelor's degree and his doctorate in physics from the University of Virginia. Heft came to Denison in 1976. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, his master's degree from the University of Bridgeport and his doctorate at Pennsylvania State University. Lisska came to Denison in 1969. He earned his bachelor's degreecum laudefrom Providence College, his master's from St. Stephen's College and his doctorate from Ohio State University. Tuominen joined the Denison faculty in 1993. She earned a bachelor's degree in educationmagna cum laudefrom Western Washington University, a master's degree in public administration from Seattle University and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Oregon.

Faculty members who hold other named chairs are: David Baker as the Thomas B. Fordham Chair in Creative Writing; Robin Bartlett as the Bank One Chair of Economics; Sohrab Behdad as the John E. Harris Chair of Economics; Daniel Bonar as the George R. Stibitz Distinguished Professor of Mathematics; Thomas Evans as the Wickenden Chair of Chemistry; Desmond Hamlet as the Lorena Woodrow Burke Chair of English; Joan Krone as the Benjamin Barney Chair of Mathematics; Donald Schilling as the Charles and Nancy Brickman Distinguished Service Chair; and Thomas Schultz as the Tight Family Professor in the Physical Sciences.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- All-college Convocation honoring faculty holders of named chairs; 11:30 a.m., Thursday (March 10) in Swasey Chapel. Free and open to the public. Contact: (740) 587-6243 to confirm information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575