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Assistant Professor of Educational Studies Ashley Taylor has been named the ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Phi Eta Sigma Professor of the Year for 2021.

Nancy Ries, professor of anthropology and peace and conflict studies, is this year’s recipient of the Jerome Balmuth Award for Teaching.

Provost and Dean of the Faculty Tracey E. Hucks ’87, MA ’90 will take a sabbatical during the 2021–22 academic year to complete several significant research projects.

Laura Jack, vice president for communications, will serve as acting CDO, providing coordination and oversight for DEI initiatives while the search for a permanent hire continues.

Two of ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s Residential Commons will be led by new codirectors, who will begin their three-year appointments beginning this fall 2021 semester.

Blake Penn will become ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s first chief information security officer and director of information security, beginning March 15, 2021.

Daniel Benton ’80, P’10, H’10 has secured his place as ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s most generous benefactor, making a $25 million gift in support of the University’s Middle Campus Plan for Arts, Creativity, and Innovation and other elements within The Third-Century Plan.

¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ will hold its annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. in a virtual format, Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2021.

Following a successful five-year pilot study, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ will launch First@¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ, a program to provide essential support and resources for undergraduates who will be the first in their families to attain a degree from a four-year institution of higher education.

With the beginning of the academic year, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ welcomed new faculty to campus.