As the academic year gets under way, we celebrate a number of University of Redlands community members who recently received honors, as well as accolades for the University as a whole.
“These recognitions shine a light on the long history of passion, dedication, and expertise of our faculty and staff, and the talent, diversity, and engagement of our students,” said University President Krista Newkirk. “Inspired by what we have achieved, we will now aspire to reach new goals both academically and as a community.”
UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS
In its 2022 rankings, US News & World Report named the University of Redlands in Regional Universities West (a category with more than 100 institutions):
- #4 Best Value
- #6 Best University
- #17 Best Colleges for Veterans
Washington Monthly has named the University of Redlands in the top 6 percent (#38 of 616) of its 2021 Master's University Rankings, based on contributions to the public good, including social mobility, research, and service.
The University of Redlands has been named a 2021-2022 College of Distinction, for offering an undergraduate experience “grounded in a philosophy of well-rounded, individualized engagement.” In addition, the University received specialized recognition in Business, Education, Career Development, Equity & Inclusion, and Military Support “for college curricula that are comprehensive not only in course material, but also in practical- and soft-skills development … with abundant opportunities for real-world application.”
The University of Redlands is featured in the 2022 edition of the popular Fiske Guide to Colleges, which offers profiles of more than 300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges in the country. According to Fiske, at the University of Redlands “interaction with professors is common and camaraderie is abundant.”
Also featuring the University of Redlands is the Princeton Review 30th edition, The Best 387 Colleges. Based on student surveys that highlight eight general areas including academics, quality of life, and campus life, Redlands is one of only 30 California colleges to make the list.
The University of Redlands and other partners in the public-private partnership Operation Greater Good were recognized by the City of Redlands in an Aug. 3 proclamation for efforts “to provide vaccination outreach and encourage vaccination, especially among underserved communities.”
FACULTY AND STAFF
For their work with other community members on the project Untold Stories of Black History in Redlands, California, and the inaugural Juneteenth celebration, August 9 proclamations from the Redlands Mayor's office honored CAS Admissions Operations Manager Joy Clark; Enrollment Assistant Tekia McNeil; Ed.D. student Arah Parker; Director of Diversity Initiative Monique Stennis; and Professor Jennifer Tilton. (See Bulldog Blog article “Giving voice to Black history in the Inland Empire” and Juneteenth Celebration 2021.)
Environmental Studies Professor Hillary Jenkins recently received a $65,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is entitled “Monitoring the Hydrology of Threatened Meadow Ecosystems in the San Bernardino Mountains."
Phase I of the $50,000 Pathways for Tomorrow grant from the Lilly Endowment, awarded to the Graduate School of Theology and spearheaded by Professors Marcia McFee and Christina Walker, has been completed. Data from interviews with churches that have transformed their financial outlook through entrepreneurial endeavors uncovered exciting possibilities for the seminary’s training of pastors for deepening connection with their neighborhoods, creating start-up and turn-around endeavors that have greater impact for good in the world. A Phase II proposal has been submitted.
Professors Heather King and Youna Kwak (Lossett Visiting Assistant Professor) have received a $5,000 California Humanities grant to fund a U of R-led project, “Plague Stories: Gathering Our Community Narratives,” exploring the aftermath of the pandemic in our community, through the lens of humanistic thought. Through a series of interconnected and interactive community-based activities, programmed from January to May 2022, “Plague Stories” will create space for sharing stories from humanistic fields while collecting local stories of lived experience.
Professor of Environmental Studies Valerie Rountree has been elected Board secretary for the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences. She has served as the organization’s Conference Program Chair for multiple years and remains an engaged Membership Committee member.
Who should we mention in our next Kudos Corner? Email your suggestions to bulldogblog@redlands.edu.
