Pan-African studies professor wins award from Honors College

Timothy Moore, who has been a presence on Kent State’s campus since his freshman year of college, has earned many titles in his 32 years as a faculty member — professor of Pan-African studies, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and most recently, Honors College Faculty Award Winner.

Moore is one of two Honors faculty members who were honored with the award.

“I said at the (Honors Awards Brunch), it’s like the Oscars, like the icing on the cake,” he said. “Because the Honors is so special, to have gotten recognition by the Honors students for a class that I still enjoy was the height of a compliment to me.”

Moore said he dedicates his success to African Chief Fela Sowande, who taught him at Kent State and helped him appreciate his spiritual significance.

“I was lucky enough to teach with him and to study under him before he passed away,” he said. “I learned a lot … and he really helped the Pan-African department to develop its philosophical and spiritual foundation.”

The faculty/student interaction is one thing Moore enjoys most about being a part of the Honors College.

“These students stimulate questions and answers and directions that are related but sometimes can become unrelated,” Moore said, “but there is a value in going on and entering into those discussions.

“It always becomes a fresh opportunity every day to not know what to expect.”

Freshman psychology major Ciara Dennis took Interpreting the Black Experience I and II and said she enjoys Moore’s energetic personality. She said she likes that most of the note taking of a normal lecture is replaced with open conversation.

“He wants us to learn from each other,” she said. “His whole thing is that you can learn so much more by discussing issues.”

She also said his kindness, wisdom and love for life is something of value that every person who meets him can benefit from.

“Every class is a great learning experience and is valuable to people of every race,” Dennis said. “It is the best class I have ever taken and has impacted me for life.”

Neither Moore, nor Richard Craig, who was also chosen for the award, are disappointed they have to share the honor.

“I have the utmost respect for Tim Moore,” Craig said about his colleague. “I’ve never heard one complaint about him; he’s very deserving of the award.”

Moore has also received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Alumni Association, the Distinguished Teaching Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as several others.

Moore said he never intended to be a teacher.

“Education became something that I found I could gain knowledge from, and I could also pass it on to others,” he said. “To me that was a real, I want to say gift, but it’s more of an honor because to have access to a student’s mind is an awesome responsibility.”

Contact undergraduate studies and Honors College reporter Elise Franco at [email protected].