Three candidates for Honors Program director

Three faculty members are finalists in the search for a new Honors Program director.

Brad Swanson, associate professor of biology, Phame Camarena, chairman of the Human Environmental Studies department, and Mark Francek, professor of geography, were named Monday.

Each will have a forum for Honors students to attend and ask questions. Swanson’s forum is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. today in Powers Hall Room 136, Camarena’s is slated for 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Larzelere Hall Alumni Room and Francek’s is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday, also in the Alumni Room.

“All three have a lot of history in the Honors Program,” said Judy Idema, the Honors Program associate director. “That really sets them apart from other faculty.”

Idema said the three will go through day-long interviews with several different groups, including the Honors Council, the search committee staff and with Claudia Douglass, interim vice provost of academic affairs.

James Hill, the current director, made the decision to step down in November. He will return to teaching political science in August.

Camarena said the Honors Program is doing well. He would like to advance it with the assistance of other members working with the program.

“We have a strong program already,” he said. “I really do think everyone sees the potential of the program.”

Camarena, who said he has worked with the program for about 12 years, served on a task force a few years back to evaluate the Honors Program. He said the experience offered insight on how the program runs.

“It gave me a real chance to look at the real potential of the program,” he said.

Francek said he has worked with Honors students for about 15 years and enjoys the challenge.

“They’re motivated, they’re demanding,” he said. “I’ve always taught a lot of Honors classes, so this will give me a chance to do it full-time.”

If selected, Francek said he would encourage faculty to use more innovative teaching methods. He also hopes to increase the number of upper-level Honors courses.

“It gets kind of slim,” he said. “There’s not the variety of classes.”

Swanson could not be reached for comment.

Idema said the new director should be selected within the next month.