L. D. Russell, senior lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies, has been selected to receive the Kathleen Connolly-Weinert Leader of the Year Award from the National Board of Theta Alpha Kappa, the Religious Studies Honor Society.
L. D. Russell, senior lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies, has been chosen
to receive the Kathleen Connolly-Weinert Leader of the Year Award from the National Board of Theta Alpha Kappa, the Religious Studies Honor Society.
In announcing the award, Oswald John Nira, chair of the 2018 Theta Alpha Kappa Awards Committee, stated, “TAK’s Board was impressed by [Russell’s] vigorous support of undergraduate Religious Studies students at Elon University, as well as [his] vibrant work as moderator for the Alpha Tau chapter. We recognized [his] strong support of TAK members at Elon and their consistent submission of academic work for consideration for TAK’s Clark Award.
“In addition, Elon University student presentations at the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion, including one student paper selected as best undergraduate paper at SECSOR 2017, and an Elon student’s reception of one of the 2017 Graduate Fellowship Awards are just some of actions that demonstrate exemplary support for student scholarship in religious studies in the spirit of Kathleen Connolly-Weinert’s leadership.”
Russell attributes this award in large part to the hard work of faculty colleagues who mentor students throughout the research, writing and presentation phases of academically rigorous undergraduate study, the leadership of past and present chapter presidents like 2017 Elon graduate Daniela Sostaita and senior religious studies major Victoria Oakley, as well as the practical help and unflagging support of departmental assistant, Ms. Annetta Womble.
The award will be presented at the Theta Alpha Kappa business meeting at the American Academy of Religion meetings in Denver, Colorado, in November.