Honorary Magazine 2018-19

There have been 3 incredible directors in the past 25 years. We chatted with them to find out more about their experience!

How long were you director? Bob: I directed the University Honors Pro- gram (UHP) for seventeen years—from its de- velopment in AY 1994 through spring 2011 Lopa: I was Director of Honors College from 2011-2016. I was Assistant Director of the Uni- versity Honors Program from 2008-2011. Chris: I was Assistant Director to Lopa for three years, and now am completing my third year as director What changes did you see in Honors when you were director? Bob: In the early 1990s, influential people at the University thought Stout had no honors students and that an “honors program” was folly. I became involved when “honors program” was still being discussed in committee. I saw the program begin, grow, and mature—in numbers and, most important, in the value we added to these Stout students’ education. Lopa: The University Honors Program was designated Honors College on July 1, 2012. A Grand Opening celebration was held on Sep- tember 12, 2012. This meant that the program experienced a sizable expansion in students, course offerings, and its living and learning community. It also meant reporting directly to the Provost like all the other colleges at the University. I actually reported to four different provosts during my term as director. Chris: I’m not sure that we’ve made major changes yet, but have tried to continue to re- fine and improve things on the path that Bob and Lopa set us on. The things I’m most proud of so far are expanding the focus on advising and implementing annual themes to help bet- ter tie our colloquia and events together each year. And the waffles, of course.

What was your favorite part about being director? Bob: Probably the creative opportunity to in- vent the program, nurture it, and experience its growth. Also: the opportunity the develop rela- tionships beyond “one and done” with students and work with committed teachers, staff, and administrators. Lopa: Being able to offer new students a home and a nurturing and intellectually invigorating community when they first arrived on campus. I enjoyed talking to students and families during Stout preview days, summer registration, and in the Fall move in days. I loved cooking breakfast for several hundred students in Antrim Frogatt, collaborating with the Hall directors to give students a genuine sense of belonging. I also enjoyed seeking out talented professors and in- viting them to teach Honors courses. Chris: Getting to feel like I’m helping to sup- port passionate, curious students is very reward- ing. I also love the everyday variety (no two days in Honors are the same) and the freedom to try new things like waking up one day and deciding we should go to a cave and getting to just do that. I also love working with the rest of the Honors staff – I couldn’t wish for better friends and colleagues to work with. Bob: I included co-curricular activities in the design of the UHP because of my previous work in therapeutic communities. I enjoyed all of our activities, but my favorites were those which were newest to students: snowshoeing, Minnesota opera excursions, traveling with students to conferences. Lopa: I have to say that what I enjoyed most were the field trips to the Minnesota opera. I re- ally think trips to the opera and Shakespeare pro- ductions at the Guthrie were the best events that I helped facilitate for students. These excursions were transformative and changed students’ ideas of what they thought they could appreciate. What was your favorite Honors College event?

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HONORARY 2018 - 2019