Dr. Steffen Wilson, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, has been named associate director of the Eastern Kentucky University Honors Program.

Wilson, who has worked with the program for three years in various capacities, is the first associate director in the program's 15-year history. She will assist Dr. Bonnie Gray, who has directed the program since its inception.

"I am just thrilled to have Dr. Wilson on board," Gray said. "She brings impeccable qualifications and a demonstrated dedication to the honors program."

The EKU Honors Program has grown from 36 students at its inception to 325 students today. Typically, at regional and national conferences, EKU ranks highest in level of participation.

Wilson's experience in assessment is "one more reason she was the right person for the job," Gray said.

Steffen Wilson joined the EKU faculty in 1997. Her responsibilities have included teaching a junior-level elective course and supervising honors panels and senior thesis projects. She also teaches courses on Child and Adolescent Development, Physiological Psychology, and a course to help psychology majors learn about their career options following graduation.

"Already, EKU has one of the premier honors programs in the country," said EKU President Joanne Glasser. "Now the program can reach even greater heights."

EKU's Honors Program is designed for intellectually promising students who seek a strong grounding in the liberal arts along with their more specialized major. The 28-credit-hour program includes course work in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, with emphasis on effective communication, development of critical thinking skills and integration of knowledge across academic disciplines.