President Emeritus R. Stanton Hales to receive honorary degree
President Emeritus R. Stanton Hales will receive an honorary degree in recognition of his distinguished term in office when The College of Wooster holds its 141st Commencement ceremony on Monday, May 16. An estimated 440 seniors will receive undergraduate degrees in the Oak Grove (1200 Beall Ave.), beginning at 10 a.m. Also receiving an honorary degree will be E. Scott Geller, founding partner and co-owner of Safety Performance Solutions. An ecumenical Baccalaureate service will be held on Sunday, May 15, at 10 a.m. in McGaw Chapel.
Hales served as president at Wooster from 1995 to 2007, following five years as vice president for academic affairs. During his tenure, he altered the campus landscape and moved the institution to a higher level of excellence. His leadership was characterized by fresh ideas, innovative vision, genuine passion, and youthful exuberance. He made himself visible and approachable to students, faculty, and staff, which helped to break down barriers and build up trust. He served all constituents, both internal and external, with the same level of honor, loyalty, and respect. The highlights of his presidency included successful efforts to bolster Wooster’s faculty, curriculum, and national reputation, as well as his leadership roles with educational organizations, including the Association of American Colleges and Universities. In addition, he oversaw a major restructuring of Wooster’s campus, which featured the addition of five new buildings and the renovation of several others, including the magnificent transformation of Kauke Hall. Despite the enormous demands and relentless pressures of his position, Hales never lost sight of Wooster’s fundamental mission: to educate students and prepare them for their calling in life by helping them to become critical thinkers, compassionate citizens, and lifelong learners.
Geller is a 1964 College of Wooster graduate and esteemed professor of psychology at Virginia Tech, where he studies human behavior and safety in the work place. His organization works with small and large companies in manufacturing, transportation, chemical processing, and service industries to further occupational safety through intensive research and the development of innovative tools. Geller is the author of more than 400 articles and numerous books or chapters, including Understanding Behavior-Based Safety, The Psychology of Safety, and The Courage Factor, which he coauthored with Bob Veazie. He is also the editor of a number of psychology and behavioral journals, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the World Academy of Productivity and Quality. He is the recipient of numerous awards at Virginia Tech, including the Tech Alumni Teaching Award, the Sporn Award for notable teaching of freshman-level courses, and the W.E. Wine Award for Teaching Excellence. Additionally, he was elected to the Virginia Tech Academy of Teaching Excellence.
Additional information about commencement is available online at http://www.wooster.edu/About-Wooster/College-President/Commencement and by phone at 330-263-2313, or email swhitman@wooster.edu.
Hales served as president at Wooster from 1995 to 2007, following five years as vice president for academic affairs. During his tenure, he altered the campus landscape and moved the institution to a higher level of excellence. His leadership was characterized by fresh ideas, innovative vision, genuine passion, and youthful exuberance. He made himself visible and approachable to students, faculty, and staff, which helped to break down barriers and build up trust. He served all constituents, both internal and external, with the same level of honor, loyalty, and respect. The highlights of his presidency included successful efforts to bolster Wooster’s faculty, curriculum, and national reputation, as well as his leadership roles with educational organizations, including the Association of American Colleges and Universities. In addition, he oversaw a major restructuring of Wooster’s campus, which featured the addition of five new buildings and the renovation of several others, including the magnificent transformation of Kauke Hall. Despite the enormous demands and relentless pressures of his position, Hales never lost sight of Wooster’s fundamental mission: to educate students and prepare them for their calling in life by helping them to become critical thinkers, compassionate citizens, and lifelong learners.
Geller is a 1964 College of Wooster graduate and esteemed professor of psychology at Virginia Tech, where he studies human behavior and safety in the work place. His organization works with small and large companies in manufacturing, transportation, chemical processing, and service industries to further occupational safety through intensive research and the development of innovative tools. Geller is the author of more than 400 articles and numerous books or chapters, including Understanding Behavior-Based Safety, The Psychology of Safety, and The Courage Factor, which he coauthored with Bob Veazie. He is also the editor of a number of psychology and behavioral journals, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the World Academy of Productivity and Quality. He is the recipient of numerous awards at Virginia Tech, including the Tech Alumni Teaching Award, the Sporn Award for notable teaching of freshman-level courses, and the W.E. Wine Award for Teaching Excellence. Additionally, he was elected to the Virginia Tech Academy of Teaching Excellence.
Additional information about commencement is available online at http://www.wooster.edu/About-Wooster/College-President/Commencement and by phone at 330-263-2313, or email swhitman@wooster.edu.
Published: April 5, 2011
