Russell Gill, Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of English, was installed as Elon’s third Distinguished University Professor on Nov. 7. Read this note to listen to his speech and download the text...
Gill was honored at a banquet attended by faculty and staff colleagues in Moseley Center. President Leo M. Lambert, along with Connie Book, associate professor of communications, and Mike Sanford, professor of art, paid tribute to Gill. Dr. James Powell, chair of the board of trustees, read the formal citation and Provost Gerald Francis presented Gill with a stole created with the assistance of Anne Simpkins, associate professor of art, and Carolyn Nelson, university director of design.
>>Click here to listen to Gill’s response
>>Click here to download a copy of his remarks in PDF format
Previous recipients were philosophy professor John Sullivan in 2002 and sociology professor Tom Henricks in 2003.
The Distinguished University Professorship is bestowed, on occasion, to full professors who have made distinguished contributions to teaching, scholarship and the Elon University community. The board of trustees created the honor in 2001, and a committee comprised of faculty members solicits nominations and recommendations for the award.
Gill joined the Elon faculty in 1976. He served as chair of the department of literature, languages and communications, the predecessor to the English department, from 1983 to 1988. Gill has held other significant leadership roles at Elon, serving as coordinator of humanities and director of general studies in 1994. From 1996 to 2000, Gill served as dean of arts and sciences, and he currently serves as Faculty Fellow for the university’s living-learning community initiative.
Gill has served on numerous university committees. He has served on the Academic Council, including a two-year appointment as chair. He has served on the promotions and tenure committee, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) steering committee on Institutional Effectiveness and the SACS committee for the Centrality of the Arts and Sciences. He is chair of the Phi Beta Kappa steering committee.
Gill received master’s and doctorate degrees from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.