By: Meaghan Roland Photo by: Meaghan Roland
On Monday Nov. 18, Milligan College President Bill Greer declared the addition of the ninth endowed faculty chair, the Paul Clark Chair of Teacher Education.
Milligan alumnus Kenneth Richardson and his wife Revenna Richardson, from Clayton, Ind., funded the establishment of this chair in honor of the former Milligan professor Paul Clark.
Greer also specified that Dr. Lyn Howell, associate professor and area chair of education, would be the first recipient of the Paul Clark Chair.
“The main purpose of the endowed chairs,” said Dr. Jack Knowles, professor emeritus of English, “is to honor an outstanding Milligan professor, the field in which that professor teaches, and the donors who support the college by endowing the chair.”
Each professor awarded an endowment is given a beautiful chair during a formal installation ceremony, which designates the professor’s new title.
“In the process,” said Knowles, “Milligan stresses that teaching excellence is at the heart of our mission as a college: to honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders.”
Clark began teaching at Milligan College in 1965.
Through his 33 years of dedication to Milligan he greatly influenced the college’s initial accreditation with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as well as the development of the Master of Education program (MEd).
“Accreditation is important not only for our college and staff, but it is important for our students,” stated Howell, “It allows them to be nationally recognized as a graduate of a rigorous institution.”
As area chair of education during his time, Clark also helped to institute new majors and licensure programs.
“Among his colleagues, he earned the nickname ‘the Velvet Bulldozer,’” explained Knowles, “because of both his kind and gracious approach to issues, and the steely determination with which he pushed his projects to completion.”
Howell has continued the avocation which Clark began since she was named the area chair of education in 2006.
Under her supervision, Milligan has renewed its NCATE accreditation, strengthened its MEd program online, and has helped develop the Adult Degree Completion Program in Child and Youth Development.
“Just about everything we do down here is collaborative,”said Howell. “That’s really one thing that makes us a strong education area. We work so closely together and everyone tries to complement each other.”
Dr. Jack Simpson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, shared on Nov. 22 that Milligan was one of 12 programs statewide to receive a 2014 Tennessee Higher Education Commission Improving Teacher Quality grant. The funds from this grant are to be used to train area educators during a summer workshop titled “Common Core State Standards: Reading Across the Disciplines.” The planning team includes seven individuals across different areas.
“This is the second consecutive year that Milligan’s education area has received this grant under Lyn Howell’s leadership,” stated Simpson.
“The grants we have been awarded the last two years help make our name known out in local school systems,” said Howell, “but they also let us give back to the community.”
Howell and the entire education area plan to further develop the department. They hope to introduce a middle school licensure with a science concentration and a K-12 comprehensive special education licensure in the near future.
Once the area is more fully staffed the department also plans on looking into starting an administrative certificate program.
For all the accomplishments that Dr. Howell has done and still plans to do, she is being rightfully recognized for her hard work and dedication, said Knowles.
“She is a valuable member of Milligan’s Academic Committee and a wonderfully encouraging and supportive colleague,” said Knowles.
“Dr. Howell personally exemplifies the educational mission of Milligan College, and she will represent Milligan well as the holder of this newly endowed chair,” said Greer.
“It’s an incredible honor,” said Howell. “I’m really pleased for two reasons; one to be associated with Paul Clark, because he was such a visionary, and the other thing is that it showcases the education department. These are the best people I’ve ever worked with, and I’m proud that I’m representing them.”
The formal installation service will be held during Convocation service on Jan. 21, 2014.
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