Did you know….

The pine snake in the biology department hallway display case has reached its 20-year anniversary. It has been at Furman since the fall semester of 1979, when biology professor Bill Teska caught it. Teska estimates that the snake, which does not have a name, is about 23 years old.

Ritter tapped to head teacher organization

Shirley Ritter, professor of education, has been elected president of the national Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). She assumed the office July 1 and will remain in the position until June 30, 2000.

The Teacher Education Division of CEC is the leading professional organization for special education teachers. TED began informally in 1948 when a small group of teacher educators met to discuss problems in teacher education. It received its charter in 1957 when it became formally affiliated with CEC. From that small group in 1948, the division has now grown to nearly 3,000 members nationwide.

Ritter, who joined the Furman faculty in 1984, received her B.S. degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Master of Educational Studies degree from the University of Queensland (Australia) and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

University honored with Truman award

Furman University is one of five colleges and universities from across the nation that have been chosen as 1999 recipients of the Truman Scholarship Honor Institution Award.

The award recognizes schools for their exemplary participation in the prestigious Truman Scholarship program, which provides financial support to students who are committed to careers in public service. The other 1999 Honor Institutions are Cornell University, Indiana University, University of Pennsylvania and University of South Dakota.

Furman has had a total of 12 Truman Scholars since 1981, which puts the university among the nation’s top liberal arts colleges in the number of awards it has received.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, established by Congress in 1975 as the official federal memorial to the 33rd president, makes 75 to 80 awards each year. The Truman Scholarship is worth $30,000 and is given to juniors who have excelled academically and are committed to careers in public service following graduate school.

Four professors receive special appointments

Shaner                     Benson                                Leavell                      Yankow

Three Furman professors have been named to fill endowed chairs and another has been named to an endowed professorship.

The honored professors are T. Lloyd Benson (history), James B. Leavell (history), David E. Shaner (philosophy) and Jeffrey J. Yankow (economics and business administration). Benson and Leavell were appointed to newly created chairs.

Benson (Walter Keith Mattison Chair in History) became a member of Furman’s faculty in 1990. He received B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from the University of Virginia.

A Texas native, Leavell (Herring Chair in History) earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Baylor University and his Ph.D. from Duke, with a major in East Asian history. He spent a number of years in Japan as a teacher and lecturer before joining the Furman faculty in 1974.

Shaner (Gordon Poteat Chair in Asian Studies) joined the Furman philosophy faculty in 1982. He earned his B.A. degree from Albertson College in Idaho and holds master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Hawaii.

Yankow (Robert E. Hughes Assistant Professor of Economics and Business Administration) is in his first year on the Furman faculty and earned his B.A. degree at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Ohio State University.

Academic chairs hold a significant place in institutions of higher learning because they recognize a major donor and help underwrite the faculty salary of a qualified professor.

Professor receives award for study about Polish humanist

Tim Fehler, a professor of history, was honored last month for his study titled "The Diaconate and Poor Relief under Johannes a Lasco: Ideal Visions and Practical Realities." Fehler, who specializes in Britain, early modern Europe, Renaissance and Reformation, read his study in Emden, Germany, at a symposium marking the 500th birthday of Johannes a Lasco.

At the end of the conference, Fehler learned that his study had been awarded second prize. Along with the recognition of his peers, Fehler received an award of 4,000 German marks.