Centre is fortunate to boast an award-winning faculty of accomplished educators.

Centre Scholars

Being named a Centre Scholar is an honor that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarly work, and contributions to the college community. Honors are rotated among Centre’s full-time faculty on a biennial basis. Each honoree receives a stipend above the normal salary.

The Centre Scholars program was made possible through a challenge gift to the college endowment from David Grissom, a Centre alumnus and Louisville businessman who chaired the college board of trustees from July 1986 to January 2008.

 

Centre Scholars

Being named a Centre Scholar is an honor that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarly work, and contributions to the college community. Honors are rotated among Centre’s full-time faculty on a biennial basis. Each honoree receives a stipend above the normal salary.

The Centre Scholars program was made possible through a challenge gift to the college endowment from David Grissom, a Centre alumnus and Louisville businessman who chaired the college board of trustees from July 1986 to January 2008.

2024

• Eva Cadavid, Associate Professor of Philosophy  
• Chantell Limerick, Associate Professor of Spanish
• John Perry, Professor of Economics & Business
• Jamie Shenton, Associate Professor of Anthropology
KatieAnn Skogsberg, Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience

2023

• Megs Gendreau, Associate Professor of Philosophy & Environmental Studies
• Jonathan Earle, Associate Professor of History
• Ravi Radhakrishnan, Associate Professor of Economics & Business
• Karin Gill, Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience
Bruce Rodenborn, Associate Professor of Physics
John Kinkade, Professor of English
Michael Bradshaw, Associate Professor of Computer Science

2022

• Laura Chinchilla, Associate Professor of Spanish
• Amy Frederick, Assistant Professor of Art History
• Mark Galatowitsch, Associate Professor of Biology
• Sarah Murray, Associate Professor of Education
• Daniel Scott, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

2021

• Willie Costley, Associate Professor of Spanish
• Amanda Falk, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Tara Strauch, Associate Professor of History
• Brett Werner, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
• Lesley Wiglesworth, Associate Professor of Mathematics

2019

• Azita Osanloo, Assistant Professor of English and Director of Writing Center
• Eva Cadavid, Associate Professor of Philosophy
• Kaelyn Wiles, Assistant Professor of Sociology
• Jonathon Earle, Associate Professor of History
• Mark Galatowitsch, Assistant Professor of Biology

2018

• Allison Connolly, Associate Professor of French
• Leonard Demoranville, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
• John Harney, Assistant Professor of History
• Kelly O'Quin, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Iulia Sprinceana, Assistant Professor of Spanish

 2017

• Jennifer Goetz, Associate Professor of Psychology
• Nathan Link, Associate Professor of Music
• Ravi Radhakrishnan, Assistant Professor of Economics
• Ellen Swanson, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
• Brett Werner, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies

2016

• Kyle Anderson, Assistant Professor of Chinese
• Jonathan Earle, Assistant Professor of History
• Marie Nydam, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Matthew Pierce, Assistant Professor of Religion
• Kari Young, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

2015

• Dina Badie, Assistant Professor of Politics & International Studies
• Jay Bloom, Assistant Professor of Art History
• Sara Egge, Assistant Professor of History
• Kerry Paumi, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
• Ian Wilson, Assistant Professor of German & Humanities

2014

• Robert Bosco, Assistant Professor of International Studies
• Jeffrey Fieberg, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Lee Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Religion
• Jason Neiser, Associate Professor of Physics
• Stacey Peebles, Assistant Professor of English

2013

• Robyn Cutright, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
• Matthew Hallock, Associate Professor Dramatic Arts
• Matthew Klooster, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Benjamin Knoll, Assistant Professor of Politics
• KatieAnn Skogsberg, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience

2012

• Laurence S. Bitensky, Associate Professor of Music
• January Haile, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Christopher Paskewich, Assistant Professor of Government
• Andrew Roche, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
• Leslie Wiglesworth, Assistant Professor of Mathematics

2011

• Stephen E. Asmus, Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Genny Ballard, Assistant Professor of Spanish
• Allison Connolly, Assistant Professor of French
• Jeffrey Heath, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
• Marie Petkus, Assistant Professor of Economics

2010

• Melissa Burns-Cusato, Assistant Professor of Psychology
• John Kinkade, Assistant Professor of English
• Alex M. McAllister, Associate Professor of Mathematics
• John Perry, Assistant Professor of Economics

2009

• Amos Tubb, Assistant Professor of History
• Sarah Goodrum, Assistant Professor of Sociology
• Brian Cusato, Assistant Professor of Psychology
• Nathan Link, Assistant Professor of Music
• Stephanie Dew, Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Ian W. Wilson, Assistant Professor of German and Humanities

2008

• Richard D. Axtell, Associate Professor of Religion
• Mary B. Daniels, Associate Professor of Spanish
• Jeffrey E. Fieberg, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Robert E. Ziemba, Associate Professor of Biology

2007

• Steven M. Beaudoin, Associate Professor of History
• W. David Hall, Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy
• Lori Hartmann-Mahmud, Associate Professor of International Studies
• Jan Wertz, Associate Professor of Psychology
• Philip W. White, Associate Professor of English
• Lisa Williams, Associate Professor of English

2006

• Matthew R. Hallock, Associate Professor of Dramatic Arts
• Judith Pointer Jia, Associate Professor of Art
• Jennifer L. Muzyka, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Donna M. Plummer, Associate Professor of Education

2005

• Laurence S. Bitensky, Associate Professor of Music
• S. Keith Dunn, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Helen V. Emmitt, Associate Professor of English
• Alex M. McAllister, Associate Professor of Mathematics
• Mark D. Rasmussen, Associate Professor of English
• José M. Workman, Associate Professor of Chemistry

2004

• Steven M. Beaudoin, Associate Professor of History
• Patricia S. Finch, Professor of Spanish
• Anne E. Lubbers, Professor of Biology
• A. Endre Nyerges, Associate Professor of Anthropology
• Bradley H. Nystrom, Professor Emeritus of Education

2003

• Richard D. Axtell, Associate Professor of Religion and Chaplain
• Christine K. Barton, Professor of Biology
• Mary B. Daniels, NEH Associate Professor of Spanish
• James V. Morrison, Paul L. Cantrell Professor of Classics
• P. Marshall Wilt, Professor Emeritus of Physics

2002

• Stephen E. Asmus, Elizabeth Malloy Dowling Associate Professor of Biology
• Beth Glazier-McDonald, H. W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Religion
• Daniel L. Manheim, Professor of English
• Margaret G. Richey, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry
• Milton R. Scarborough, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion

2001

• Mykol C. Hamilton, H. W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Psychology
• William R. Levin, Professor of Art History
• C. Thomas McCollough, Nelson D. and Mary McDowell Rodes Professor of Religion
• Mark D. Rasmussen, Associate Professor of English
• Jack G. Thompson, Professor of Psychology
• William J. (Beau) Weston, NEH Professor of Sociology

2000

• Michael G. Barton, Professor of Biology
• Brian P. Cooney, H. W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Philosophy
• Jane W. Joyce, Charles J. Luellen Professor of Classics
• Phyllis Passariello, Professor of Anthropology
• P. Marshall Wilt, Professor Emeritus of Physics

Endowed Professorships

Centre has multiple endowed professorships, thanks to the generosity of many different alumni, friends of the College, and organizations. This overwhelming support of our faculty members speaks to their high-caliber teaching and research endeavors.

• Paul G. Blazer Professorship in Economics, established by Ashland Oil Inc. and Mrs. James T. Norris in memory of her late husband Paul G. Blazer, a former Ashland CEO and Centre trustee. It was first awarded in 1981.

• Ewing T. Boles Professorships, established by a bequest from Ewing T. Boles, Class of 1916. He was a Columbus businessman, CEO of The Ohio Co., and Centre board chair (1964-69). The Boles professorships encourage and denote leadership in academics and public affairs in the region and beyond. They were first awarded in 1994.

• James Graham Brown Professorship in Economics, established by a grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation in 1992. Mr. Brown was a Louisville businessman and philanthropist.

• Paul L. Cantrell Professorship in Humanities, a three-year rotating professorship, established in 1997 by a gift from Board Chair J. David Grissom, Class of 1960. Dr. Cantrell taught Shakespeare and drama at Centre from 1949 to 1989.

• J. Rice Cowan Professorship in English, established in 1962 by a bequest from Dr. Cowan, a Danville physician, member of the Class of 1890, and 18-year chair of the Centre Board of Trustees.

• Gordon B. Davidson Professorship in History, established by the BellSouth Corporation in honor of former BellSouth director and Centre trustee emeritus Gordon B. Davidson, Class of 1949. It was first awarded in 1998.

• Elizabeth Molloy Dowling Professorship in Science, established by a bequest from Elizabeth Molloy Dowling, Class of 1907. First awarded in 1997, the three-year rotating professorship recognizes promise and achievement among faculty in the science and mathematics division.

• Marlene and David Grissom Chairs (2), established by Marlene and David Grissom in 2018, are held by preeminent teacher-scholars recruited to Centre as esteemed leaders in the field with well-established records of excellence.  The area of scholarship of a Grissom Chair may be associated with any academic discipline or may be interdisciplinary in character. 

• Marlene and David Grissom Professorships (6), established by Marlene and David Grissom in 2018, honor Centre faculty members for outstanding work.  The Grissom Professorships rotate every three years and are awarded to two members in each academic division.

• Margaret V. Haggin Professorship in Science, established by a gift from the Margaret V. Haggin Trust of New York and first awarded in 1997.

• John Marshall Harlan Professorship in Government, established in 1994. John Marshall Harlan, Class of 1850, is widely acclaimed as one of the Supreme Court’s greatest justices. His most famous dissent came in 1896, when he argued against the majority in Plessy v. Ferguson, the case that made “separate but equal” the law of the land.

• Charles T. Hazelrigg Professorship in Humanities, a three-year rotating professorship, established in 1997 by a gift from Board Chair J. David Grissom, Class of 1960. Dr. Hazelrigg, Class of 1937, joined the English program in 1941, taught full time until 1981, and then part time for another six years.

• Frank B. and Virginia B. Hower Professorship in International Studies, established in 2005 by a grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation in honor of Frank Hower, member of the board at the Brown Foundation and at Centre College.

• Alfred P. and Katherine B. Jobson Professorship, established by a bequest from Mr. and Mrs. Jobson and first awarded in 1996. He was an executive vice president with Marsh and McLennan Inc., a New York City insurance firm. The Jobsons had ties to Centre through family and friends.

• Pierce and Amelia Harrington Lively Professorship in Government and Law, established in 2005 by gifts to the endowment in honor of Judge Lively and his wife Amelia and their many significant contributions to the life of the College.

• Charles J. Luellen Professorship in English, established in 1997 by the Ashland Inc. Foundation in honor of Charles J. Luellen, a Centre trustee and retired president of Ashland Oil.

• W. George Matton Professorships, established in 1969 by a bequest from W. George Matton, a Louisville tobacco executive and friend of the College.

• National Endowment for the Humanities Professorships, established by an NEH challenge grant. First awarded in 1988, these rotating awards recognize promise and achievement among members of the humanities faculty or those with interests in the humanities.

• Claude D. Pottinger Professorship in History, established by a bequest from Mr. Pottinger and first awarded in 1990.

• Nelson D. and Mary McDowell Rodes Professorship, established in 1996 in memory of their parents by Mr. and Mrs. Rodes’ four surviving children: Nelson D. Rodes Jr., Class of 1954 and vice chair of Centre’s Board of Trustees; Joe Rodes, Class of 1953; Clifton Rodes, Class of 1949; and Charles Owsley Rodes.

• H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professorships, established by a bequest from Mr. and Mrs. Stodghill. Mr. Stodghill was a member of Centre’s Board of Trustees and a member of the class of 1936. The professorships, now 10 in number, were first awarded in 2004.

• John H. Walkup Professorship in Chemistry, established by Centre trustee Joseph Patterson, Class of 1961, who studied under long-time Centre chemistry professor John H. Walkup. It was first awarded in 1997.

• John M. and Louise Van Winkle Professorship, established by a bequest from Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle. John M. Van Winkle, Class of 1925, was a Centre trustee from 1947 until his death in 1974. The professorship was first awarded in 1996.

 

Below are the current endowed professorships listed in alphabetical order by the professor’s last name.

David A. Anderson, Paul G. Blazer Professor of Economics (2001)

Stephen E. Asmus, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2014) 

Genny Ballard, Charles T. Hazelrigg Professor of Spanish (2021)

Steven M. Beaudoin, Ewing T. Boles Professor of History (2012)

Pierre Bergeron, Pierce & Amelia Harrington Lively Professorship in Gov/Law

Larry Bitensky, W. George Matton Professor of Music (2015)

Melissa Burns-Cusato, H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Neuroscience (2021)

Allison Connolly, Alfred P. & Katherine B. Jobson Professor of French

Robyn Cutright, Marlene and David Grissom Associate Professor of Anthropology (2022)

Mary Daniels, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Spanish (2017)

Leonard Demoranville, Marlene and David Grissom Associate Professor of Chemistry (2022)

Sara Egge, Claude D. Pottinger Associate Professor of History (2019)

Helen Emmitt, J. Rice Cowan Professor of English (2015)

Jeff Fieberg, John H. Walkup Professor of Chemistry (2017)

Amy Frederick, NEH Associate Professor of Art History (2019)

Kristen Fulfer, Marlene and David Grissom Associate Professor of Chemistry (2020)

Mark Galatowitsch, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of Biology (2005)

Jennifer Goff, Marlene and David Grissom Associate Professor of Theatre (2020)

January Haile, Elizabeth Molloy Dowling Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2021)

W. David Hall, W. George Matton Professor of Religion (2017)

John Harney, NEH Associate Professor of History (2022)

Lori Hartmann, Frank B. and Virginia B. Hower Professor of International Studies (2021)

Jeff Heath,  Margaret V. Haggin Professor of Mathematics and Data Science (2021)

Lee Jefferson, Nelson D. and McDowell Rodes Associate Professor of Religion (2019)

Bruce K. Johnson, James Graham Brown Professor of Economics (1992) 

Joel Kilty, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Math (2017)

Nathan Link, H. W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Music (2022)

Alex McAllister, H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Mathematics (2015)

Jennifer Muzyka, Ewing T. Boles Professor of Chemistry (2022)

Stacey Peebles,  H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of English (2008)

Marie T. Petkus, Ewing T. Boles Associate Professor of Economics (2016)

Ellen Prusinski, Marlene and David Grissom Associate Professor of Education (2022)

Ravi Radhakrishnan, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of Economics and Business (2004)

Robert Seebacher, Marlene and David Grissom Associate Professor of Music (2022)

Tara Strauch, Paul L. Cantrell Associate Professor of Philosophy (2021)

Amos T. Tubb, Gordon B. Davidson Professor of History (2012)

William J. (Beau) Weston, John M. and Louise Van Winkle Professor of Sociology (2008)

Lesley Wiglesworth, H. W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of Mathematics (2022)

Lisa Williams, Charles J. Luellen Professor of English (2021)

Ian Wilson, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of German (2021)

Karin Young, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of Chemistry (2022)

 

Kirk Awards

The Kirk Award was endowed by a gift from a member of the board of trustees in 1995. The endowment has recognized excellent teachers at Centre since 1996. (Recipients’ teaching philosophies are listed next to their name as a clickable PDF document.)

2024

• Willie Costley, Associate Professor of Spanish
• Kelly O'Quin, Associate Professor of Biology
Matthew Pierce, Associate Professor of Religion

 
2023

• Christian Wood, Associate Professor of French
• Mauricio Castro, Assistant Professor of History
Prayat Poudel, Associate Professor of Mathematics


2022

• Leonard Demoranville, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Chantell Limerick, Associate Professor of Spanish
Ellen Prusinski, Assistant Professor of Education


2021

• Laura Chinchilla, Associate Professor of Spanish (PDF)
• Azita Osanloo, Associate Professor of English & Director of Writing Center
Patten Mahler, Associate Professor of Economics & Business
• Jamie Shenton, Assistant Professor of Anthropology (PDF
• KatieAnn Skogsberg, Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience (PDF)
Kari Young, Associate Professor of Chemistry

2019

• Danielle La Londe, Associate Professor of Classics
• Marie Petkus, Ewing T. Boles Associate Professor of Economics
• Jeff Heath, Associate Professor of Mathematics

2018

• Dina Badie, Assistant Professor of Politics & International Studies
• Melissa Burns-Cusato, Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience
• Mark Lucas, Alfred P. Jobson and Katherine B. Jobson Professor of English

2017

• Stephanie Dew, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Dan Manheim, H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele Stodghill Professor of English
• John Perry, Associate Professor of Economics

2016

• Steve Asmus, H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Stephen Dove, Assistant Professor of History
• Judith Jia, Professor of Art

2015

• Richard Axtell, Professor of Religion and College Chaplain
• Sheldon Tapley, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H.Stodghill Professor of Art
• Jan Wertz, Associate Professor of Psychology

2014

• James Morrison, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H.Stodghill Professor of Classics
• Kerri Paumi, Assistant Professor of Chemistry (PDF)
• William (Beau) Weston, John M. and Louise Van Winkle Professor of Sociology

2013

• David Anderson, Paul G. Blazer Professor of Economics
• Brian Cusato, Elizabeth Molloy Dowling Associate Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience
• Barbara Hall, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Music

2012

• Mike Fabritius, Professor of Economics
• John Kinkade, Assistant Professor of English
• H. Edward Montgomery, Professor of Chemistry 

2011

• Lee Jefferson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion 
• Patrick Kagan-Moore, Charles T. Hazelrigg Professor of Dramatic Arts
• Jason Neiser, Assistant Professor of Physics 
• Peggy Richey, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

2010

• Helen V. Emmitt, Professor of English
• Bruce K. Johnson, James Graham Brown Professor of Economics
• Jose M. Workman, Professor of Chemistry

2009

• Allison Connolly, Assistant Professor of French
• Brian P. Cooney, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Philosophy
• Alex M. McAllister, Associate Professor of Mathematics
• C. Thomas McCollough, Nelson D. and Mary McDowell Rodes Professor of Religion

2008

• Vincent A. DiMartino, W. George Matton Professor of Music
• Julie James, Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish
• Christine A. Shannon, Margaret V. Haggin Professor of Science
• Amos T. Tubb, Assistant Professor of History

2007

• William P. Crummett, Professor of Physics
• Jeffrey E. Fieberg, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• C. Kenneth Keffer, Jr., H. W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of French and German
• Elizabeth Perkins, Gordon B. Davidson Associate Professor of History

2006

• Christine Barton, Professor of Biology
• Mary B. Daniels, NEH Associate Professor of Spanish
• Daniel Stroup, Pierce and Amelia Harrington Lively Professor of Government and Law

2005

• Phyllis W. Bellver, Assistant Professor of Spanish
• W. David Hall, Assistant Professor of Religion
• Philip B. Lockett, Professor of Physics
• Robert E. Martin, Ewing T. Boles Professor Emeritus of Economics
• Jan Wertz, Assistant Professor of Psychology
• Ian W. Wilson, Assistant Professor of German and Humanities

2004

• Helen V. Emmitt, Associate Professor of English
• Anthony R. Haigh, Professor of Dramatic Arts
• Margaret G. Richey, Professor of Biology
• William J. (Beau) Weston, NEH Professor of Sociology
• John H. Wilson, H. W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Mathematics
• Clarence R. Wyatt, Claude D. Pottinger Associate Professor of History

2003

• Laurence S. Bitensky, Assistant Professor of Music
• Michael Hamm, Ewing T. Boles Professor of History
• Lori Hartmann-Mahmud, Assistant Professor of International Studies
• Jennifer L. Muzyka, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Mark D. Rasmussen, Associate Professor of English
• Robert E. Ziemba, Assistant Professor of Biology

2002

• Robert Brownlee, Professor Emeritus of Economics
• Larry Matheny, John Marshall Harlan Emeritus Professor of Government
• Eric Mount, Nelson D. and Mary McDowell Rodes Emeritus Professor of Religion

2001

• Stephen E. Asmus, Elizabeth Malloy Dowling Associate Professor of Biology
• Jennifer L. McMahon, Associate Professor of Philosophy

2000

• Richard D. Axtell, Associate Professor of Religion / Chaplain
• Joe Workman, Associate Professor of Chemistry

1999

• Karin Ciholas, Van Winkle Professor of Languages
• Beth Glazier-McDonald, Associate Professor of Religion

1998

• Donna Plummer, Assistant Professor of Education
• P. Marshall Wilt, Professor of Physics

1997

• Mark Lucas, Professor of English
• Elizabeth Perkins, Assistant Professor of History

1996

• Chalene Helmuth, Assistant Professor of Spanish
• Roberta White, Luellen Professor of English