In 1994, the Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the Arts,
Rhetoric, and Science was named in honor of an individual who has continuously supported
the university over many years. This chair helps to bridge the gap in academia between
the sciences, the arts, and the humanities disciplines.
Chairholders serve for one semester, or the equivalent, allowing a number of individuals
from a variety of fields to participate over time. The primary duties of the chairholder
are to teach two courses, typically one undergraduate and one graduate, and to present
four public lectures/performances.
| Member |
Department | Term |
| Gerald Deehan | Psychology | 2017-19 |
| Anant Godbole | Mathematics and Statistics | 2017-19 |
| Katina Heil | Literature and Language | 2017-19 |
| Eileen Ernenwein | Geosciences | 2018-20 |
| Scott Honeycutt | Literature and Language | 2018-20 |
| Dan Westover | Literature and Language | 2018-20 |
Nominations are solicited from faculty during the spring semester; notification is
distributed to the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences via e-mail. A nomination should
consist of a letter of nomination and the nominee's CV. The letter should justify
the choice, with emphasis on how the individual would contribute to the interdisciplinary
nature of the position, and should address
his/her public speaking and ability to interact with students. It will be assumed
that the nominator has consulted with the individual and determined that he/she would
be interested in the position, should it be offered.
2017-2018 Dr. Liam Campbell
2016-2017 Dr. Jeff Todd Titon
2015-2016 Dr. Lee Anne Wilson
2013-2014 Mary Jane Jacob
2012-2013 Dr. Thomas Schmick
2011-2012 Dr. Jennings Bryant
2010-2011 Dr. Molly Faries
2009-2010 Dr. Phillip Rhodes
2008-2009 Dr. Graham Leonard
2007-2008 Ivars Peterson
2006-2007 Dr. George Kampis
2005-2006 Dr. Martin A. Hendry
2004-2005 Mr. Mel Chin
2003-2004 Mr. John Blake, Jr.
2002-2003 Dr. John Shelton Reed
2001-2002 Dr. Anne LaBastille
2000-2001 Dr. George Gale
1999-2000 Lia Alther
1999-2000 Pat Cronin
1998-1999 Corame Richey Mann
1997-1998 Gustavo Perez Firmat
1996-1997 John Bowers
Dr. Liam Campbell
Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence in the Arts, Rhetoric and Science
Dr. Liam Campbell currently serves as “Built and Cultural Heritage Officer” for the Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership in Northern Ireland. His main area of research is the exploration of the history and heritage of place and space in the Irish landscape as a vital element of national heritage and identity.
Dr. Campbell believes that “landscape is the critical junction or intersection where matters of legal rights, economic forces, physical conditions, settlement, religious, ethnic and communal identity, power and imagination come together to provide the key narratives of experience”. Throughout his professional work as an academic, community relations officer, television producer, or priest, Dr. Campbell has worked to help communities tell that story; and believes that community engagement is an essential first step in creating living, vibrant, and sustainable landscapes and spaces.
Dr. Campbell attended National University of Ireland (B.D.), Queen’s University Belfast (M.Sc.), and University of Ulster (M.A. and PhD), where he has taught a range of history and research courses. Dr. Campbell is the recipient of numerous research grants, most recently those awarded by Northern Ireland’s Department of Culture, Arts and Learning, the Heritage Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Heritage Lottery Fund.
During his tenure as Basler Chair, Dr. Campbell will present four interdisciplinary public lectures, including,
A Sense of Place - Ecology, Community and the Human Spirit.
Map-making, Landscape and Memory - A comparative measuring of America and Ireland
Nature and Culture in Ireland - the last wolf to the first eagle
An Ireland Post Brexit - between Europe and America
