MacMurray awards honorary professorships

     Jacksonville – At the May meeting of the MacMurray College Board of Trustees, two faculty members were appointed to long-established honorary professorships.

     Dr. Robert Seufert was named President William F. Short Professor of English. President Short served as president of the college from 1875 to 1893. The professorship was made possible by an endowment set up in his honor by alumnae. Dr. Seufert has been a member of the English Department faculty since 1981.

     Dr. Roberta J. Stewart was named President Joseph R. Harker Professor of Religion. President Harker served as president of the college from 1893 to 1925 and the professorship was made possible by an endowment in his honor by alumnae. Dr. Stewart is currently chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. She has been a member of the MacMurray faculty since 1991.

     Her predecessor as Harker Professor was Dr. Richard Palmer, who is now President Joseph R. Harker Professor Emeritus of Philosophy. Dr. Palmer retired from the College in 1999 after 40 years of service but continues on campus as a research scholar in residence. He is widely acclaimed for his studies in hermeneutics (theory of understanding and interpretation).