94 ACADEMICS THRICE THE Honors College appoints a new team of professors to lead. A desire to involve more faculty in the leadership of the Honors College brought about a decision to appoint three new faculty leaders following the retirement of Mike James, previous head of the Honors College. The chosen faculty, University College Dean and assistant professor Kevin Kehl, associate professor of communications Jim Miller, and associate professor of engineering and physics James Huff, began their roles as Honors College faculty in fall 2020. Chief Academic Officer and Provost Marty Spears recommended Kehl as one of the heads of the Honors College. “The new dean of honors, Dr. Kevin Kehl, was selected first, and then followed a process to arrive at his recommendation for two new faculty members to provide leadership in the Honors College,” Spears said. “I supported his recommendation, and Dr. McLarty approved it.” According to Spears, Kehl developed a model that had faculty act as part of a leadership team with the dean as the chair. Students benefited from the increased number of faculty leaders, which offered more opportunities for honors programming and for students to connect with honors faculty. “It is my desire to continue the legacy established by the first dean of the Honors College, Dr. Larry Long back in 1989, who envisioned a special focus on both academic and programmatic enrichment for students to approach their studies in creative and intellectually challenging ways,” Kehl said. “It is our goal for this focus to translate into Honors College students and graduates leading the way at Harding University in modeling what it looks like to love God with all of one’s strength, soul and mind and to their neighbors as themselves.” Junior Everett Kirkman was selected as the student president of the program by the Honors College leaders. “While I haven’t yet seen Dr. Kehl fully in his new role, I’m excited about his new position,” Kirkman said. “I’m confident that he’ll help bring improvements to the Honors College. One great way I’ve already seen him do that is by appointing Dr. Miller and Dr. Huff. I think a great leader knows their limits, and knows when and how to entrust some responsibilities to others. Dr. Huff and Dr. Miller are great representations of our faculty. I’m excited to see the ways that their personal talents and interests help the Honors College improve.” story by Ellie Shelton ONOR
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