Michigan Campus Compact, a nonprofit organization focused on college student civic engagement, will award Jerry Herron a Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Award at its annual institute in February 2009.

Herron, dean of Wayne State's Irvin D. Reid Honors College, has been a professor of English and American studies at Wayne State for more than 25 years. He is a resident of Detroit.

The Honors College curriculum encourages Honors students to enroll in coursework through CommunityEngagement@Wayne, a service-learning initiative Herron implemented to provide the university with an office that supports faculty with the tools necessary to strengthen their course content; gives students the opportunity to apply classroom theories in a hands-on way; and offers community organizations assistance from Wayne State students.

"Service-learning is a central aspect of the Honors College in significant part because of the deep commitment of Dr. Herron," wrote Stephen Calkins, associate vice president for academic personnel, who nominated Herron for the award. "Few people care more about community service and service-learning, or have done more to promote those values."

The Irvin D. Reid Honors College exemplifies Wayne State University's commitment to the urban experience and to the enrichment of teaching, service and research. It is the mission of Honors to promote informed, engaged citizenship as the foundation for academic achievement in a diverse global environment.

The college is home to more than 1,300 students who may choose their majors from among the 126 bachelor's degree programs offered by the university.