A communication studies associate professor has been chosen as the new University Honors Program director.

Associate Professor Jeffrey Chown will replace University Honors Program Director Marion Miller, who is retiring this summer.

Chown was one of three finalists who the search committee selected out of ten entries. The other finalists included English Professor James Giles and University Honors Program Assistant Director James Marett.

The search committee was made up of the associate provost, three students, a staff member from the honors committee and the chairman of the honors committee, said Honors Program secretary Joanne Ganshirt.

The selection committee who chose Chown to be the new director was made up of the present director, members of the honors committee, honor students, the associate provost and department chairs.

Associate Provost Lou Jean Moyer said the director had to have the following qualifications: tenure in an academic department, exhibition of a commitment to a strong culturally diverse honors program and effectiveness in working with students and faculty.

She said Chown has an undergraduate degree in journalism, a master of arts in English from the University of Oklahoma and a master of arts in film studies from the University of Michigan. He received a doctorate from the University of Michigan in American studies.

He also received the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award in 1989 and was NIU’s nominee for the “Committee for the Advancement and Support of Education” Professor of the year award in 1988-89. He spent the following year in Ireland teaching at Dublin City University.

Chown has written two full-length plays currently under consideration by a Hollywood agent and he has written a book which exemplifies his scholarly interest in the area of media culture and literacy, Moyer said.

Chown said he was pleased to be chosen for the directorship and is looking forward to the challenge. He said for the first year he plans to “get (his) feet wet” and continue what Miller and Marett have already accomplished in the program. After that he will start taking on more challenges.

“I am looking forward to maintaining the high quality of education they’ve achieved so far,” Chown said.

He said he will continue teaching part-time in the communication studies department.

The director’s duties include scheduling honors classes, overseeing the honors program, recruiting work with administrators and sitting on various committees, Ganshirt said.

The position will begin July 1.