Drake University’s Honors Program is marking significant transitions this semester.

Professor of Philosophy Jennifer McCrickerd is enjoying a sabbatical and preparing to step away from her role as Director of Honors after more than a decade of leadership and service. Under Professor MicCrickerd’s guidance as director, Drake’s Honors Program served an expanding group of students, developed tremendous opportunities for faculty, and innovated its curriculum and co-curricular offerings. In short: her commitment to teaching and learning has left Drake Honor’s in a strong place, and we are tremendously grateful for Jennifer’s work.

Professor Matthew Hayden (SOE) is serving as Interim Director of Honors this spring and has also been appointed to serve, without the “interim” moniker, for a three-year renewable term, starting Fall 2023.  Professor Hayden earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy & Education at Teachers College, Columbia University and joined Drake University’s School of Education in 2012 after being awarded the Association for Moral Education’s Kuhmerker Dissertation Award. He also has a M.A. in International Educational Development with a concentration in Human Rights Education, which included a stint as an intern at Human Rights Watch, writing docent educational materials for a global traveling exhibit of Darfurian children’s art. Professor Hayden’s research and teaching are rooted in Philosophy but are highly interdisciplinary—this makes him an excellent choice to lead Honors at Drake.

Professor Hayden has taught in the Honors program and has been a member of the Honors Advisory Council since 2014, consistently teaching Paths courses and multiple Honors cross-listed J-Term Travel Seminars. His favorite type of teaching and learning is when it is unexpected, unintentional, and driven by student curiosity that forces the instructor to throw away the “rule book,” adapt to emerging conditions, and learn himself in order to meet the new demands of the students. Matt tells me that he is looking forward to working with students, professors, and academic departments at Drake—and is especially interested in increasing the diversity of departmental, major, and faculty representation in the Honors program.

Please take a moment to congratulate Matt on his appointment, and offer your gratitude to Jennifer for her work leading Drake University Honors.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Deputy Provost 2:10 (two articles with a read time of 10 minutes) is a communication series by Deputy Provost Renée Cramer sharing important scholarship, teaching, and development opportunities.