Susan Jackson Rodgers, a professor in the Oregon State University School of Writing, Literature and Film, has been appointed associate dean of the Honors College. Professor Rodgers has served as interim associate dean of the college since January 2020, when she replaced Dr. Tara Williams, who became dean of the University of Alabama Honors College.
The Honors College associate dean has a broad set of responsibilities, including curriculum, assessment, supervision of the honors advising team and faculty engagement and development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodgers has also represented the Honors College at the university’s continuity of operations meetings.
Rodgers became interim associate dean following a competitive search in December 2019. Due to her qualifications for the position and achievements in the role, Honors College Dean Toni Doolen was able to waive a second search for the permanent position.
“Associate Dean Rodgers’ work has been absolutely critical during a very challenging time,” says Doolen. “This position is central to our ability to serve honors students, and Professor Rodgers has managed to provide continuity and innovation, all while learning and integrating into our team largely remotely.”
Rodgers has been a faculty member at Oregon State since 2008 and was director of the master of fine arts in creative writing program in the College of Liberal Arts from 2015 to 2019. She is a nationally recognized fiction writer and creative writing teacher and has written two collections of stories, a novel and award-winning pieces for numerous literary journals and magazines.
Before coming to Oregon State, Rodgers taught at Kansas State University from 1992 to 2008. During her time there, she was recognized with Kansas State’s most prestigious teaching commendation, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Rodgers also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Writers and Writing Program.
“I’m thrilled to remain with the Honors College community and build on the foundation I’ve established this year,” Rodgers says. “The students, staff and faculty in the college are models for the entire university, and I look forward to continuing to work with them – hopefully in person again at some point! I feel like we are just getting started.”
Kevin Stoller: Honors College Director of Operations and External Relations
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Susan congratulations!! this is a well deserved promotion. The students in the Honors College will have an Associate Dean who cares deeply about them and their success during these challenging times. Susan, keep up the great work and continue to carry the CLA flag high at OSU! We appreciate all that you do for the students success.