CONWAY, Ark. (Sept. 28, 2005) – Jay Barth, associate professor of politics at Hendrix College, will be the program director of the newly formed Hendrix Project Pericles® Advisory Committee.
Hendrix President J. Timothy Cloyd has appointed a committee of trustees, administrators, alumni, faculty members, students and staff to develop and implement the Hendrix Project Pericles program.
The committee will be responsible for developing programs and collaborations that will deepen the culture of civic engagement at Hendrix and foster participation of the entire college community in civic, community and political affairs.
“Dr. Barth brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas to this position, and I know that under his leadership, Hendrix will make the most of our affiliation with Project Pericles,” said Cloyd.
The mission of Project Pericles parallels the Hendrix initiatives to give students better opportunities to engage the world in critical, thoughtful and life-changing ways, he said.
“We feel very flattered and privileged to be invited to participate in a prestigious organization dedicated to connecting civic responsibility with higher education. Our involvement with Project Pericles will undoubtedly enhance the college’s new curricular initiative, Your Hendrix Odyssey: Engaging in Active Learning, by giving students even more opportunities for active learning experiences.
Last May, Hendrix became the 20th college and university nationwide that has been extended an invitation for membership by the organization since Project Pericles’ founding in 2001. Hendrix is the only participant from Arkansas.
Other members of the Hendrix Project Pericles Advisory Committee are Hendrix Alumni Chris Barrier, an attorney with Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, and Pat Lile, president and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation; Hendrix Board of Trustees Member Rev. Pamela J. Estes of Blytheville; former Hendrix Board of Trustees Member Nancy Wood of Little Rock; Hendrix faculty Jay McDaniel, professor of religion, Susan Perry, assistant professor of education, and Nancy Fleming, professor of music and associate Odyssey Program director; Hendrix students Eric Bell of Little Rock and Chad Sardashti of Russellville; and Hendrix staff Christy Coker, Rev. J.J. Derden, Jerald Garner, Mary Henderson, Priscilla McChristian and Judy Williams.
Project Pericles, named after the Athenian statesman credited with articulating Athenian democracy to the ancient world, was conceived in 1999 by Eugene M. Lang to address a national concern: the growing political cynicism and civic disengagement of young people. A retired businessman well known for his philanthropic and innovative ventures in education, including the “I Have a Dream Foundation,” Lang was motivated by his belief that higher education should be the primary medium for revitalizing the legacy of Pericles.
Formal action and involvement by an institution’s governing board are part of the unique policy requirements of Project Pericles. These requirements, designed to foster participation by the entire college community, value and encourage socially and civically-oriented initiatives.
“We welcome Hendrix as an important and respected addition to the vibrant and enthusiastic group of colleges and universities that are leading the way for higher education to raise the levels of understanding and responsible civic preparation of students,” said Lang, president of Project Pericles.
In addition to Hendrix, other Periclean colleges and universities include Allegheny College, Chatham College, Swarthmore College, Ursinus College and Widener University, all of Pennsylvania; Berea College of Kentucky; Bethune-Cookman College of Florida; Dillard University of Louisiana; Elon University of North Carolina; Hampshire College of Massachusetts; Macalester College of Minnesota; New England College of New Hampshire; New School University, Pace University and Wagner College of New York; Occidental College and Pitzer College of California; Rhodes College of Tennessee, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
For more information about Project Pericles, go to www.projectpericles.org
Hendrix, founded in 1876 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. Hendrix was selected this year by the Princeton Review as the nation's #4 "best value" college. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.