New Honors Program director named

Nicole Sparling Barco — director of Cultural and Global Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, a Presidential Administrative Fellow for 2019-20, and world literature faculty member in English Language and Literature — will be the next director of Central Michigan University's Honors Program.

Executive Vice President and Provost Mary C. Schutten has announced Sparling Barco's appointment to a three-year term as Honors Program director, July 1, 2020-June 30, 2023. She will replace Phame Camarena in the role and has begun working alongside him for a smooth transition.

"Nicole has excellent skills building interdisciplinary and international collaborations and is part of the 2030 strategic envisioning process, and I am delighted she has agreed to be the next director of Honors," Schutten said. "The director search attracted an excellent applicant pool, indicating the very strong commitment of CMU faculty to the Honors Program."

As Honors Program director, Sparling Barco will be responsible for operation of the Honors Program, including course scheduling, identifying faculty to teach courses, overseeing protocols and the Centralis Scholarship Program, developing "HON"-designated courses, and related duties. She will chair the Honors Council as a nonvoting member. The position is responsible to the senior vice provost for Academic Affairs.

Sparling Barco retains her tenure as a full professor during her appointment, which is renewable beyond three years.