Recognizing the many accomplishments and indelible contributions of those Elon College faculty who are preparing to retire at the end of the 2017-18 academic year: Barry Beedle, Paul Fromson, Karl Green, Thomas Henricks, Pam Kiser, Steve Moore, Betty Morgan, Jeffrey Pugh, Sharon Spray and Anthony Weston.
Barry Beedle – Department of Exercise Science
Beedle is celebrating 40 years of service, having joined our faculty in fall 1977. He helped shepherd the department through numerous curricular revisions, was instrumental in shaping the department’s current structure, developed the first exercise science laboratory at Elon, and mentored the department’s first UR students. His research on flexibility was cited in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 2011 Position Stand: “Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults: Guidance for Prescribing Exercise.”
Paul Fromson – Department of Psychology
Fromson joined the department when it was in its infancy. His 32 years of leadership, mentorship and service to the department have contributed greatly to its growth; it now boasts 21 permanent faculty members, with a wide array of disciplinary expertise, who support approximately 700 combined majors and minors—and student data suggests that our majors are some of the most well-prepared psychology graduates in the country. He has served as the director of the Lumen Prize scholarship program, assistant dean for academic affairs and chair of the Department of Psychology, and has occupied many other positions of responsibility. He is the recipient of 2009’s Elon College Excellence in Teaching Award.
Karl Green – Department of Performing Arts
Green began at Elon in fall 2010, when he was hired to serve as costume studio manager. However, his skills and artistry led to him being viewed as a second costume designer, and in that role, he made significant contributions to a great many plays, musicals and dance concerts. His particular passion for, and experience in, design for dance helped to elevate the quality of our dance performances. His specialties include fashion, costume construction and costume design, and his keen interest in environmental issues fed his passion for teaching GST/COR 110 and upper level seminars.
Thomas S. Henricks – Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Hendricks’ many and significant contributions have been acknowledged by his receiving the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the honor of recognition as a Distinguished University Professor. His research interests in the sociology of play, games and sport, social and cultural change, the self and society, and smotions, to name a few, have led to the publication of five books and more than 60 other academic publications. In addition to numerous terms of service as a departmental chair, he has also been an associate dean of academic affairs and dean of social sciences.
Pam Kiser – Department of Human Service Studies
Kiser joined our faculty in 1981, and her many accomplishments have been recognized since then by her receipt of the Watts-Thompson Professorship and Elon College’s Excellence in Service and Leadership Award in 2005, the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007, and the Robert Sigmon Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award in 2009. In that year, she was also honored as a Distinguished University Professor. She has served as a department chair, and as an Interim dean of Elon College. She has been the Kernodle Service-Learning Faculty Development Fellow and published a text on human service internships that is used nationwide.
Steve Moore – Department of Environmental Studies
Moore joined the department in fall 2011, and has been a central figure in the Department of Environmental Studies during these past seven years. He was instrumental in the development of Loy Farm as a site for instruction in agroecology and sustainable food systems and the creation of related curriculum. As an indication of what an impact his leadership has had, last year approximately 5,000 pounds of food from the Loy Farm were contributed to Allied Churches through the Elon Campus Kitchen. He was also vital to the establishment of the Peace Corp Prep Program, one of the first Peace Corps/university partnerships in the nation, and has served as its director.
Betty Morgan – Department of Political Science & Policy Studies
Morgan is celebrating 25 years at Elon, having joined our faculty in 1992. As a Fulbright Scholar, Betty has worked extensively in international settings that have provided significant opportunities to Elon students. Very active in study abroad and study USA, Betty lead semester programs in London and Florence, taught the Winter Term European Union course for many years, developed a student internship program in Lithuania, offered study USA experiences for the International Fellows Program and a recent “Washington, DC: Democracy in Transition” experience associated with the last presidential election. She has received the Higher Education Leader of the Year Award from the National Society of Experiential Education. Betty has served as a department chair, played a significant role in developing and implementing the policy studies major, and directed the International Fellows Program from its creation in 2011.
Jeffrey Pugh – Department of Religious Studies
Pugh started at Elon in 1986, and has twice served as the department’s chair. He was received the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000, was named the Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies in 2006, received the university’s Distinguished Scholar Award in 2010 and was honored as a Distinguished University Professor in 2017. He is the author of five books and other published works in the areas of science and religion and Bonhoeffer studies. He will deliver Elon University’s Baccalaureate remarks on Friday, May 18, 2018.
Sharon Spray – Department of Political Science & Policy Studies
Spray joined the Elon faculty in 1998. During the past 19 years, many of her significant contributions reflect her research focus on environmental politics. She held a secondary appointment in the Department of Environmental Studies; developed and taught courses about environmental issues, resources and policies; mentored undergraduate research on topics about environmental issues and American government; and published a series entitled Exploring Environmental Challenges. Other significant professional works include two books co-authored with colleague Laura Roselle. She also served as a department chair and played an integral role in establishing the Elon University Poll and served as its first director.
Anthony Weston – Department of Philosophy
Weston, who came to Elon in 1992, is a professor of philosophy and of environmental studies, and works in environmental philosophy and in philosophy pedagogy, both very broadly understood. He has won the university’s Distinguished Scholar Award (2007) and the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching (2002). He has published 13 books, many of which have been translated (one is currently available in 11 languages) and many of which are in multiple editions, and he has authored 33 articles and book chapters. Even as he is heading into retirement, he has three more books in preparation. He is a central figure in the fields of environmental studies and pedagogy studies in philosophy.