McKendree University English Professor Wins Grandy Faculty Award
Alumni Association Honors Dr. Nichole DeWall at Commencement Ceremony
(LEBANON, Ill., May 12, 2018) — The McKendree University Alumni Association chose
an English professor known for her positive attitude and love of Shakespeare for the
2018 William Norman Grandy Faculty Award. Dr. Nichole DeWall received the honor at
undergraduate commencement exercises held on May 12 at the Lebanon, Ill., campus.
Given since 1981, the award is based on commitment to students, the ideals promoted
by the university, and community participation.
DeWall, an Edwardsville, Ill., resident, is a tenured associate professor of English
who joined the faculty in 2008. She teaches courses in English composition, British
literature, dramatic literature, and research but her primary area of expertise and
her personal passion is in the teaching of Shakespeare.
“Dr. DeWall engages students actively in the learning process and strives to help
them not only to learn, but to delight in the reading of literature,” said Maria Page,
Alumni Association president. When students were asked to comment about DeWall, they
described her as intelligent, positive, engaged, passionate, caring and that “she
made Shakespeare fun…which is difficult to do.”
An accomplished scholar, DeWall has published 10 book chapters or journal articles
and given nearly 30 presentations to professional audiences. She chairs the faculty
Contract Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure Committee and the Brown Bag Committee, serves
on the planning committee for the Academic Excellence Celebration, and is a past president
of university’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She received the Emerson
Excellence in Teaching Award for St. Louis area educators in 2016.
DeWall earned a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Olaf’s College, a master’s degree
in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a doctorate in English from
Northeastern University.
This year marked the 37th presentation of the prestigious annual award named for Dr. William Norman Grandy,
who served from 1952 to 1968 as professor of philosophy and religion, and as dean
of students, academic dean and interim president.
Dr. Nichole DeWall, associate professor of English at McKendree University, addresses the crowd at the 2018 McKendree commencement ceremony as winner of the Grandy Faculty Award. Looking on, left to right, is Dr. Christine Bahr, provost and Dean; Dr. James Dennis, university president; and Daniel Lett, president of the board of trustees.
