Honors Corner and Kinkead Honors Study Room Dedicated

As part of the dedication of the Honors Corner in the Merrill-Cazier Library April 28, a second dedication and celebration honored Joyce Kinkead in two ways for the substantial contributions she has made to the Honors program and to the university over the years.

Honors Program Director Christie Fox announced the official dedication of the Joyce Kinkead Honors Study Room and the Joyce Kinkead Library Research Award. The Honors Study Room is a group study room and computer lab made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor. The Joyce Kinkead Library Research Award will be given to an undergraduate student who completes an outstanding research project using the library’s resources.

“Because of Dr. Kinkead’s leadership and vision, we have seen the Honors program grow and have seen services expand to benefit all of the university’s students,” Fox told a crowd of students, faculty, staff and administrators. “We are here not only to dedicate the Honors Corner, but also to honor an individual who has over the years made a substantial contribution to the program and to the university as a whole. Today’s dedication is intended to ensure that her name continues to be associated with excellence.”

History department head Norm Jones, retention specialist Melissa Miller Kincart and assistant registrar Krystin Deschamps spoke about the many ways in which Kinkead has made her mark on students’ lives during her time at USU.

Kincart cited a long list of Kinkead’s accomplishments, including her personal commitment to students, her focus on creating conditions that promote student success, and her visionary leadership and team thinking.

“Joyce’s leadership and commitment to student success is unparalleled,” Kincart said. “Her innovative and creative ideas, and her intrinsic drive to do what is best for students, will have a lasting effect on Utah State University. She is truly a deserving of these honors that highlight student achievement.”

She highlighted the central role Kinkead plays in undergraduate research opportunities for USU students. Under her leadership, Utah State students and their research are highlighted annually at the state Capitol, at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the Council on Undergraduate Research’s National Posters on the Hill. She initiated the Rhetoric Associates Program and Undergraduate Teaching Fellows, in addition to expanding resources for the A-team, Honors Fellows and Peer Mentors, all of which provide meaningful academic employment for students.

Honors Program Director Fox added a list of just some of the things in which Kinkead has been a major factor:

-- Rhetoric Associates

-- Undergraduate Teaching Fellows

-- Initiated Carnegie Professor of the Year nominations

-- Pathway to the Arts

-- University Studies Program

-- String Quartet in Residence

-- Golden Mouse Award

-- Undergraduate Research “Posters on the Hill”

-- Scholars Forum Honors Orientation Course

-- Graduation Guarantee Program

-- Common Freshman Reading Experience