Charles R. Bantz, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, announced the appointment of Professor Jerry Herron as director of the Wayne State University Honors Program. Herron's appointment will be effective July15; he will report to the provost. Herron succeeds Stanley Shapiro, professor of history, who retires in December.

Herron, a resident of Detroit, joined the Wayne State faculty in 1982, and is currently professor and associate chair in the Department of English and director of the university's American Studies Program.

"Jerry Herron was selected following an extensive national search that identified superb candidates," said Bantz. "He represents the scholarly accomplishments, program leadership and commitment to quality that will take the University Honors Program to the next level by bolstering student success, growing enrollment and encouraging diversity. He brings a strong record of developing undergraduate programs, a commitment to student recruitment and his special rapport with students to the task. We are extremely pleased to have Jerry Herron take on this role."

Herron received his Ph.D. and M.A. from Indiana University and a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. A gifted scholar and teacher, Herron published two books and numerous articles and twice received the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching from Wayne State. He also received the Board of Governors Distinguished Faculty Fellowship.

"I owe my career to this place, I'm proud to say. Detroit gave me an extraordinary subject to work on; and Wayne State has supported me all the way," said Herron. "Now I get to be director of our Honors Program, which as far as I'm concerned, is the best job at the university. I get to collaborate with some of our best students and finest teachers to figure out how to make a good thing even better."