West Virginia University’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences announces the first two recipients of the newly established James and Arthur GabrielGabriel Brothers Faculty Award Program.
Patrick Conner from the Department of English and Kevin Leyden from the Department of Political Science will be honored at the College’s Weekend of Honors celebration Saturday.
The purpose of the Gabriel Brothers Faculty Award Program is to encourage, support and reward faculty endeavors, especially teaching, which focuses on America and American society and culture.
“Both Professor Conner and Professor Leyden exemplify what is best in American society and culture through their teaching and leadership,”said M. Duane Nellis, Dean of the Eberly College.
Dr. Conner was selected because of his entrepreneurial spirit and skills resurrecting the WVU Press and making it a viable business and educational enterprise, Nellis noted. Through Conner’s vision of what an academic press could be for West Virginia University and the state, the Press is now publishing better scholarly and creative works than ever before, he added.
The WVU Press’s dedication to West Virginia and Appalachia helps the entire country to understand this region of the country. The Press’s books teach a variety of people, in and out of classrooms, near and far from WVU . Conner’s excellent work with the WVU Press is based on a business model which by its very nature celebrates America and its possibilities,Nellis said.
Dr. Leyden is being recognized for his teaching and research concerning the topic of”social capital”that is, the degree to which people are involved in communities and with each other.
Leyden has been internationally recognized for his work on how different types of neighborhoods are conducive to the maintenance of good health. He has been involved in several organizations and activities in Morgantown and throughout the state that have focused on ways to build a sense of community and re-build neighborhoods that once fostered a sense of involvement and community well being.
James and Arthur Gabriel, both graduates of WVU , have always been supportive of WVU . Establishing this program during the recently concluded Building Greatness Campaign is the latest example of the support given to WVU students and faculty through the Corporate Gifts Program of Gabriel Brothers, Inc.