Honors Program - Honors Program Faculty
GARRY W. HESSER
Titles: Professor of Sociology and chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division
Degrees: PhD from the University of Notre Dame, Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary (NYC).
Honors: 2004 Carnegie-CASE Minnesota Professor of the Year, 2004 Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning Award (Augsburg), 2002 Distinguished Sociologist of Minnesota Award, 2001 Pioneer Award (National Society for Experiential Education), and the 1998 Thomas Ehrlich Award for national leadership and scholarship.
Academic Interests: Advancing the field of service-learning as a teacher, researcher, and community partner.
DIANE L. PIKE
Titles: Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
Degrees: PhD from Yale University
Honors: Three-time recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching
Academic Interests: Teaching effectiveness and student engagement, curriculum development and assessment; national lecturer and consultant on educational assessment and teaching.
LARRY J. CROCKETT
Titles: Professor of Computer Science, immediate past Honors director
Degrees: PhD from the University of Minnesota, Master of Divinity from Luther Theological Seminary
Honors: Rockefeller Fellowship (Princeton), Templeton Prize for religion and science, two National Science Foundation grants, Outstanding Teaching Award, three Honored Faculty Awards, and a number of faculty development grants.
Academic Interests: Computer science, philosophy, and religion
JOAN L. GRIFFIN
Titles: Professors of English and Director of General Education
Degrees: MA and PhD in Celtic Languages and General Education curriculum models
Honors: Awards for design and First-Year Experience and General Education curriculum models
Academic Interests: Early Irish literature and culture, medieval studies, pre-Colombian Mexico, and the history of the Twin Cities; specializes in curriculum development and Indo-European epic literature
ROBERT C. GROVEN, Honors Program Director
Titles: Associate professor of Communication Studies, Honors Program Director, Director of Forensics
Degrees: JD from the University of Minnesota Law School, MA in Speech Communication from the University of Minnesota
Honors:University of Minnesota Rhetoric Department Excellence in Teaching Award (twice), Minnesota State High School League Section Coach of the Year (twice), Minnesota Debate Teachers Association Coach of the Year, the Apple Core Coaching Award, and the Lamplighter Award for service and leadership
Academic Interests: Forensic argumentation, rhetoric, and legal discourse
