Thiel College DHI director attended institute for new honors program leaders in Chicago

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College Dietrich Honors Institute Director and Associate Professor of English Sheila Gross, Ph.D. ’10 attended the National Collegiate Honors Council’s New Directors Institute in Chicago July 20-23.

The institute was focused on providing new honors directors and deans at two- and four-year institutions tools, strategies, resources, and discussion on all aspects of honors programming, from leadership and administration to curriculum, innovation, and forward planning. Held at the Aloft Chicago Hotel on the “Magnificent Mile,” Gross and her fellow participants discussed topics pertinent to their honors programs both during the workshop and during lunch sessions.

“The New Director’s Institute was such an impactful and valuable experience as I got to meet so many wonderful leaders in honors from across the country,” said Gross. “And while I returned back energized with new ideas, one of my biggest takeaways is that we have something special here at Thiel and in the DHI, and I am so lucky to work with such collaborative colleagues from across the campus.” During her free time, Gross also enjoyed exploring the Chicago sites with her fellow participants.

Gross was an English and history double-major at Thiel and graduated in 2010. She earned her Master of Arts in English at Gannon University in 2012 and her Doctor of Philosophy in literature and criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She was appointed Interim Director of the Dietrich Honors Institute in January 2025.

The Dietrich Honors Institute connects Thiel students to a variety of opportunities and resources including:

• $1,000 merit award renewable for four years
• Early class registration
• Travel to regional cultural and academic centers
• Opportunities for seminars focused on personal, academic, and professional development

Thiel College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Northeast Regional Honors Council.

Related Links

• The Lectern
  
• Dietrich Honors Institute
• Centers of Excellence

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