Call for Applications: M. Neil Browne Professorship

Applications are now being accepted for the M. Neil Browne Professorship. Created in 2014 by David (former member and chair of the Board of Trustees) and Shirley Levey, this professorship honors Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus Neil Browne, Ph.D., J.D. This award is intended to attract and/or retain distinguished educators at BGSU, and the holder of this professorship shall be referred to as the "M. Neil Browne Professor." The holder is to develop students' skills in critical thinking, effective listening, inquiry, and ethical reasoning.

Award Holder Responsibilities

The M. Neil Browne Professor:

• Will continue Professor Browne's tradition by designing and leading innovative co-curricular activities that build on students' critical thinking skills and provide them with access to experiences (theatre performances, lectures, museum tours, etc.) that will help define their college careers, shape their professional lives, and enhance their critical thinking skills.
• Will receive a stipend of $3,000 annually plus additional funds of up to $6,000 a year specifically dedicated to offsetting the cost of implementing the student experiences and to help mitigate student participants' direct costs to participate in those experiences.
• Will actively teach undergraduate courses at BGSU during the term of the appointment.
• Will be expected to teach at least one class in the Honors College each year of the appointment.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the M. Neil Browne Professorship, candidates must

• Be a tenured faculty member;
• Demonstrate a record of successful co-curricular student engagement;
• Demonstrate a record of excellent teaching at the undergraduate level;
• Demonstrate a commitment to integrating critical thinking with various educational platforms and;
• Propose an innovative program that connects critical thinking with significant co-curricular opportunities.

The selected faculty member will serve a term of three years. The Provost may reappoint the incumbent to additional terms if the Provost determines that the recipient continues to meet the goals of the professorship.

Application

Applicants should submit a portfolio in electronic form (pdf preferred) to Michelle Simmons (msimmon@bgsu.edu) by April 5, 2019. The portfolio should include, but is not limited to:

• A current curriculum vitae;
• A letter describing interest in the Professorship and experience with co-curricular and student engagement activities, efforts, and outcomes;
• A proposal for the creation and implementation of an innovative student program that connects critical thinking with significant co-curricular activities; and
• Two artifacts (letters, evaluations, awards, etc.) documenting the applicant's excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Selection

The Provost will appoint a Committee to screen applications and make its recommendations to the Provost. The Committee shall include at least three BGSU faculty members who hold the rank of professor, the majority of which shall be in endowed or named professorships, and the chair shall hold an endowed or named professorship at BGSU. Alumni who have been involved in course focused on critical thinking and ethical reasoning will have an opportunity to provide input on an ex officio basis during the selection process.

Terms of the Award

The Browne Professor will receive a stipend and will have additional funds specifically dedicated to the implementation of the proposed student experiences. It is the desire of the donors that the funds will reduce and/or eliminate any cost individual students would need to bear in order to participate in the cocurricular experiences. Holders of the Professorship must provide an annual summary of their work (by June of each year) based on the expectations described in the appointment letter from the Provost. This report will be reviewed by the Provost, and if the Holder has not met the expectations stated in the appointment letter, the appointment shall be terminated immediately and a new holder of the Professorship shall be selected using the process described above.