GREENEVILLE – A professor with a passion for learning and fostering student-driven academic research and scholarship has been named director of Tusculum University’s Honors Program.
Dr. Adam Denton
Dr. Adam Denton, an assistant professor of psychology, recently was chosen for this key leadership post. He will help high-achieving, motivated students take their education to the next level academically and culturally and serve as a mentor for their development as career-ready professionals. He will also continue to serve as a faculty member in the psychology program.
“We have been extremely impressed with Dr. Denton’s positive impact on the growth of students and are pleased to elevate him to this additional position,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “He is a dedicated professor who works successfully and diligently with students to accomplish their academic goals and career ambitions. We place great emphasis on having an excellent Honors Program, and Dr. Denton brings the background and strong desire to ensure students maximize their experience.”
Tusculum’s Honors Program is designed to serve students who want to be challenged intellectually, sharpen critical thinking skills, build time management and networking abilities and enjoy cultural enrichment. Students who are accepted into the Honors Program are eligible for academic and housing scholarships. They can also earn an honors minor.
Dr. Denton comes to the position as a former honors student who conducted research as an undergraduate at East Tennessee State University. He continued to hone that skill as he obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of South Carolina and has already accumulated an extensive portfolio of research in the early stages of his career.
His primary goal as director is to expand the number of students conducting research and demonstrating scholarship under his guidance.
“Research and scholarship are among the most centrally important experiences a college student can have today,” he said. “For those students interested in pursuing a graduate degree such as a master’s or PhD, this background is essential for acceptance. A research/scholarship skill set is likewise necessary for those students who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree upon graduation. By having these experiences, graduates can demonstrate to potential employers that they indeed have the necessary critical thinking and organizational skills to complete a project from start to finish and to produce high-quality work.”
Dr. Denton is a first-generation student, a designation for those whose parents did not obtain a bachelor’s degree. He used available resources for those students as an undergraduate, including the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, to further his progression as an up-and-coming professional.
Dr. Adam Denton, left, speaks with an incoming student at Pioneer Quest about the Honors Program.
Throughout his studies and during his two years at Tusculum, Dr. Denton has mentored multiple students as they have undertaken research projects in psychology and other areas of study. Serving as honors director will enable him to have an even broader reach with research across the university.
Dr. Denton intends to collaborate with each student in the Honors Program to create a targeted individual development plan. That document will include completion of either a major research/scholarship project or a hands-on internship. He will support the students’ efforts by helping them be paired with a faculty member in the appropriate academic program, who will be happy to share knowledge and help them attain their goals.
The strength of Tusculum’s Honors Program mirrors what the university offers as an institution, he said.
“Because we have a smaller student body and faculty comprised of dedicated educators, we are able to more directly tailor programs of study and experiences for each individual student,” Dr. Denton said. “In the Honors Program and at the university as a whole. this allows us to build experiences that move beyond academics alone and provide our students with a sense of support and community as they navigate the often-challenging road that is college academics. Our faculty members have a wealth of knowledge and experience and a highly diverse array of academic and professional interests.”
Dr. Denton recognizes that the idea of conducting research can seem intimidating for some students. He wants to show them that research is not something to be feared but rather to be embraced for the many opportunities it will create and the doors it will open for them. Research also has a valuable influence on humanity and society. He said his studies and practice as a neuroscientist have provided him with knowledge about learning that he can impart to students so that process is easier and more efficient.
Another goal for Dr. Denton is to increase visibility of the Honors Program outside the university through community engagement and service.
Dr. Adam Denton, right, speaks with incoming students at Pioneer Quest about the Honors Program.
“It is simply not enough as an academic to sit idly in an ivory tower hoarding knowledge,” he said. “I firmly and somewhat idealistically believe that the true purpose of research and scholarship is to improve the course of humanity and to chart a better future for upcoming generations. As a result, I strongly believe that individuals who pursue an academic path in any capacity should use the skills and knowledge that they are cultivating within their community to make it a better place.”
Dr. Denton is also focused on building the bonds among students in the Honors Program.
“This sense of community is an important foundation for all college students to build their college career upon and, at least in my view, is equally as important for students to maintain as GPA,” he said. “My vision for the Honors Program is for it to become a community of student-scholars who support not only their community but also one another.”
To learn more about the Honors Program, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/honors/. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.