Promotion and Tenure Recipients Honored

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Provost Sharon L. Gaber hosted the third annual reception to honor the 43 University of Arkansas faculty members who received tenure or promotion in 2012. The University Libraries hosted the event in the Helen Robson Walton Reading Room in Mullins Library on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

To commemorate the event, each faculty member was asked to select a book of personal significance and to describe its importance. The descriptions collected from faculty range from appreciations of a scholarly book that was crucial to their choice of careers, those that inspired or encouraged their reader, to lessons learned from childhood books that have applied throughout life. An exhibit of those books and the comments of the faculty members who selected them is on display in the Walton Reading Room of Mullins Library.

During the ceremony Provost Gaber recognized the faculty as the backbone of the university. She observed that the diverse selection of books reflects the talents and personalities of the honorees who selected them. Gaber thanked the University Libraries for embracing the event and the book exhibit.

“The message I hope viewers draw from this exhibit is how exciting and fascinating the life of the mind can be and how lucky we are to have such engaged, inquisitive, and intelligent minds among our faculty,” Gaber said. “Our three-fold mission of research, teaching, and outreach would be impossible without you, our faculty.”

Dean of Libraries Carolyn Henderson Allen said, “Each year we look forward to this event and marking this milestone with our faculty. The exhibit of books is a fascinating glimpse into the hearts and minds of what are our very best scholars and researchers.”

The application for tenure or promotion at the university is a rigorous process involving an intensive formal review of the candidate’s record of research, teaching and service. After university leaders review those applications, selected candidates are forwarded to the university’s Board of Trustees for final review.