Roark named youngest NCHC Fellow

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Jessica K. Roark, assistant director of the Oklahoma State University Honors College, is the youngest individual ever to be honored as a fellow of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), a title for which she was formally recognized at the organization’s conference held recently in Denver.

At age 37, Roark joins a select group of 47 other honors professionals who have been named a NCHC Fellow, including OSU Honors College Director Emeritus Dr. Robert Spurrier. The title is earned by distinguished service to honors education with criteria that includes scholarly activities related to honors education, NCHC regional and/or state honors, organization leadership, and a demonstrated record of sustained commitment to honors education.

"I’m so fortunate to work with incredibly talented and motivated students in the Honors College at OSU, and the support, encouragement, and mentorship provided by the National Collegiate Honors Council have contributed a great deal to my professional development in honors education,” said Roark. “It is a wonderful honor to be recognized by the organization."

Originally from Tulsa, Roark joined the Honors College staff in 2004, becoming assistant director in 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and a Master of Arts Degree in English with a specialization in literature, all from OSU.

As an active member of the National Collegiate Honors Council, Roark has served as co-chair of the Honors Advising Committee, as co-chair of "Developing in Honors," a workshop for honors administrators, faculty, and professional staff at the national conference, and as a member of the 2014 and 2015 NCHC Conference Planning Committees. She is also a professional member of NACADA -- The Global Community for Academic Advising.

In 2010, Roark was approved by the NCHC Board of Directors as one of NCHC's Program Reviewers, a group of honors professionals who serve as external reviewers of other institutions' honors programs and honors colleges. She is also a past president and vice president of the Great Plains Honors Council, one of the regional divisions of NCHC.