Elizabethtown College Director of Honors Program & Professor of Political Science/Professor of International Studies Oya Dursun-Özkanca was recently appointed to a leadership role in the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) and will serve on the Small College Committee of the NCHC.
“I am thrilled about this opportunity, which brings more visibility to our College in national honors education,” Dr. Dursun-Özkanca said. “With my membership in this Committee, I seek to advocate for improved logistical and financial support for small colleges in honors education.”
The Committee evaluates conference proposals from Small Colleges for the NCHC Annual Conference and meets on a regular basis each year, including the meeting at the NCHC Annual Conference. Dr. Dursun-Özkanca’s term on the Small College Committee will expire at the end of 2025.
“This appointment will continue efforts to put the Elizabethtown College Honors Program on the map for honors education in the U.S. and contribute to the national prestige and visibility of our program,” Dr. Dursun-Özkanca explained. “Being appointed to this Committee also serves as a good indication of our program’s dedication and contributions to advancing honors education.”
Etown’s Honors Program is well established as a national leader in honors education. A peer review made by the NCHC in 2020 highlighted the strengths of Etown’s program and how it has the potential to serve as a role model for other colleges of comparable size.
Dr. Dursun-Özkanca has been at the helm of the Etown Honors Program since 2020, first being appointed as Interim Honors Program Director in July 2020 before being appointed for a three-year term as the Director of the Honors Program in the fall of 2021.