The new semester is off and running, and it's been a strong start for ye olde Davidson Honors College. It's been grand to be back in the classroom with Introduction to Honors and Love classes on my teaching docket this semester. Intro students got oriented to the course and jump-started their I Am From... poems. Love class covered a lot of ground — from Cheryl Strayed, to moments of nurturance, to forms of love, and Brown's TED Talk (a personal favorite) on the power of vulnerability. I'm so excited for the semester ahead!
We covered lots of ground in our first team meeting of the new year and welcomed Heather Best from the UM Foundation, who presented on UM's Big Give (mark your calendars for March 25-26). Professor Saldin and the Griz Read committee met this week, too, with lots of ideas for next year's selection. Our next task: reading, and lots of it; what fun! We'll keep you posted on the selection.
Our first Tea Time with Tim for the semester was especially fun and well-attended. We read a column, 'The New Year is What You Make It' by my friend Nina McConigley, and chose 'theme words' for 2026. Among them: choose, brilliant, present, fish, connect (and connection), health, present, renew, progress (and progression), listen, strive, authentic, growth, discipline, resilience, courage, and love. What's your word for 2026?
Next week will be another busy one. Here's some of what's coming up:
DHC Ambassadors will host a Scholar Interview Workshop on Monday, January 26, at 6:00 PM on Zoom for incoming student scholarship finalists. Interviews are set for February 2-12.
DHC Trivia is Tuesday, January 27.
Honors Student Association will hold its first meeting of the year next Thursday, January 29, at 6:30 PM. All are welcome.
Bethany is convening an important Capstone Conversation event next Friday, January 30. All interested students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend to learn more about the capstone process, hear from senior students, faculty mentors, workshop their capstone ideas, and more.
The DHC's refreshed Peer Mentorship Program has some 150 students signed on to participate! The program's first event, a 'Marvelous Mentor Mentee Matching Mixer' (complete with inflatable bowling), is set for next week, February 5, at 5:00 PM.
DHC senior Alden Whitney, 'Chief Push' of UM's 107th Forester's Ball, invites the honors community to join in all the activities associated with this year's celebration, February 6-7. We're proud of Alden and of all of our DHC students who are working so hard (and having their fair share of fun, too), keeping this wonderful UM tradition going strong. This year's theme is Timber Fallin’ and Trucks A Haulin'. It promises to be a swingin’ good time.
The Davidson Honors College’s sixth annual Evening of Excellence is set for March 11. I encourage everyone to nominate students, faculty, or staff members for special recognition. Nominations may be completed via Submittable and are due February 11.
Students may be nominated for special DHC awards here:
Students who have completed four honors requirements may submit for mid-point achievement awards (the DHC pin) here:
We will also present our 2026 Promoting Intellectual Engagement awards, a DHC Teacher of the Year, and a Magnificent Mentor. Nominate faculty/staff for recognition here:
Our annual festive First Year Showcase is on February 25. Fall 2025 Introduction to Honors students are invited to share their work, including: I Am From poems, Academic Plans/Narratives, TOTSME reflections, Griz Read Summative Pieces (Book of Delights), What it Means to be Honorable Projects, and E-Portfolios. Sign up here by February 6:
We had a small but mighty crew for a chilly, icy hike up Barmeyer Loop, but the sunrise views of our beautiful valley, all lit up, did not disappoint. As Dr. Hardy says, 'we brought that mountain to its knees.' Ha.
This week, we also received news of President Bodnar's departure from his role. On behalf of the DHC, I'll close by expressing our deep gratitude for President Bodnar's service, leadership, support, and friendship. Among his many signature achievements during eight years as president was the establishment of UM’s Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships. This initiative allowed us to hire Dr. Benes, and as a result, has provided scholarships, fellowships, and opportunities for countless students to pursue and achieve their wildest dreams. We were always thrilled to have President Bodnar join us for scholarship receptions and medallion ceremonies, and deeply appreciate his energetic advocacy — with everyone from our highest-level donors to prospective students and their families — for the promise of honors education at UM. It's been great fun working with his office for the President's Lecture Series, too (last year's opening remarks from Jericho Brown were especially memorable). Some of you know it's my custom to read John O'Donohue's For a Leader at our fall scholarship reception. Here it is once more, with deep respect, gratitude, and best wishes for our Big Griz:
May you have the grace and wisdom To act kindly, learning To distinguish between what is Personal and what is not.
May you be hospitable to criticism.
May you never put yourself at the center of things.
May you act not from arrogance but out of service.
May you work on yourself, Building up and refining the ways of your mind.
May those who work for you know You see and respect them.
May you learn to cultivate the art of presence In order to engage with those who meet you.
When someone fails or disappoints you, May the graciousness with which you engage Be their stairway to renewal and refinement.
May you treasure the gifts of the mind Through reading and creative thinking So that you continue as a servant of the frontier Where the new will draw its enrichment from the old, And may you never become a functionary.
May you know the wisdom of deep listening, The healing of wholesome words, The encouragement of the appreciative gaze, The decorum of held dignity, The springtime edge of the bleak question.
May you have a mind that loves frontiers So that you can evoke the bright fields That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.
May you have good friends To mirror your blind spots.
May leadership be for you A true adventure of growth.
