History of the Honors Fellows Program

The History of the Honors Program

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Origins of Honors at Elon (1965–1979)

The earliest form of honors education at Elon began in 1965, when a small honors program of 36 students was first mentioned in the Maroon and Gold.

 

In 1974, The officially titled “Honors Program” was designed to allow students to “work ahead at an accelerated rate” while engaging in challenging academic experiences. The program was developed by a faculty committee that included Dr. J. Earl Danieley, Dr. Robert Blake and Dr. George Troxler, and was chaired by Dr. John Sullivan.

Dr. Anne Ponder served as the program’s first director. Initially, the program was open only to sophomores, juniors and seniors and emphasized interdisciplinary honors courses and academically challenging learning experiences

One of the first honors courses, “Fact & Value,” launched in 1976 with a small cohort of 10 students. By the late 1970s, Elon faculty were actively working to expand honors offerings and were participating in national conversations about honors education through conferences such as the National Collegiate Honors Council.

 

Growth and Recognition (1980–1990)

During the 1980s the Honors Program expanded both academically and institutionally.

In 1983 the program was praised by the North Carolina Honors Association and was described as being “recognized nationally as a model program,” according to founding director Anne Ponder.

Honors courses were offered in more than eleven academic areas, and students became increasingly visible leaders on campus. Many honors students served as Student Government Association officers, editors of Colonnades, varsity team captains and student organization leaders.

In 1985 Dr. Lamar Bland became director of the program following Ponder’s resignation. During this time the program became more standardized and strengthened its interdisciplinary approach.

By the late 1980s the program had also introduced the idea of a senior research experience, which would later become a central element of the honors curriculum.

 

Expanding the Honors Community (1991–2001)

In 1991 Dr. Kathy Lyday-Lee became director and expanded the program’s intellectual and community-building opportunities.

Several new initiatives were introduced during this period, including:

• Honors Flash, a student-led newsletter
• Faculty-student programs such as “Evenings with Faculty” and “Travels with Faculty”
• The “Backdoor Ethics” discussion series
• Mandatory retreat off campus

In 1995 the university launched the Elon College Convocation for Honors, an annual event celebrating academic achievement, community engagement and philanthropy. During this period, honors students made up 5% of the graduating class. The first convocation speaker was former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher. 

Subsequent speakers included:

• Former President, George H.W. Bush (2001)
• English Primatologist & Anthropologist, Jane Goodall (2002)
• South African Bishop & Theologian, Desmond Tutu (2003)
• Astronaut & Former Senator, John Glenn (2005)
• Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell (2006)

By the mid-1990s the program included honors housing in Virginia and Chandler, travel opportunities, research funding and a structured honors curriculum.

Honors students increasingly presented at professional meetings beyond Elon, as the school remained a member of the N.C Honors Association, Southern Regional Honors Council, and National Collegiate Honors Council.

Restructuring the Fellows Program (2001- 2007)

In 2001 Dr. Daniel Wright became director of the Honors Program as the university expanded recruitment of high-achieving students.

The program underwent a major restructuring beginning in 2002. Admissions were reduced from approximately 80 fellows to about 40 per class in order to strengthen the academic experience. At the same time, financial support for fellows increased significantly, with annual scholarships reaching $9,500 beginning in 2003.

This period also saw the creation of the William R. Kenan Jr. Honors Fellows Scholarship, a four-year full-tuition award for the top entering honors fellow each fall. The first recipient was Tori Strange.

The restructuring introduced several defining elements of the modern honors curriculum, including:

• First-year honors seminars
• Global experience courses
• A formal honors thesis requirement

In 2003 the Honors Pavilion, commonly known as the “Billy House,” was dedicated as a space for the honors community. Also in 2003, Dr. Mary Jo Festle took over Wright’s position as director, working alongside associate director Janet Myers until 2008.

In the fall of 2007, the Festle and Myers wrote an essay for The Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council titled “Getting More for Less: When Downsizing in Honors Yields Growth.”

Building the Modern Honors Program (2008–2016)

In 2008 Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler became director of the Honors Program, with Dr. Mike Carrigan serving as associate director. The program continued expanding opportunities for experiential learning and global engagement.

New initiatives included:

• An Honors Fellows Community Director position (HFCD) starting in 2012
• A first-year honors service trip to Asheville beginning in 2012
• A winter-term study abroad program in Istanbul for first-years beginning in 2013

Leadership of the program continued to evolve, with Dr. Tom Mould serving as director beginning in 2013 and Dr. Barbara Miller becoming associate director in 2014.

In 2016 the Honors Advisory Committee expanded faculty involvement by extending committee terms from two years to three.

Honors in the Present Era (2017–Present)

The program entered a new era of growth beginning in 2017 when Dr. Lynn Huber became director of the Honors Program.

In 2018 the program created the Honors Diversity and Inclusion Director (HDID) student leadership position to support initiatives that foster an inclusive community for students from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Dr. Steven Bednar became director in 2021 and oversaw a period of program expansion. In 2023 the size of the honors cohort increased from 45 to 60 fellows per class. Faculty representation on the Honors Advisory Committee also expanded in 2025 to support the program’s continued growth.

In 2026 Dr. Svetlana Nepocatych was appointed director of the Honors Program, beginning a new chapter in the program’s leadership and development.