Indiana University Northwest recently announced the university’s new Chancellor’s Professorship, a special academic honor that will be given to two senior faculty colleagues in its inaugural year.

Professor of English George Bodmer and Professor of Fine Arts David Klamen will begin their appointments on January 1. They will hold the rank of Chancellor’s Professor throughout their careers at IU Northwest.

The Chancellor’s Professorship is intended to recognize senior faculty colleagues who have achieved the rank of professor and consistently demonstrate “highly meritorious performance in all areas of faculty work: teaching, research or creative activity, and service.”

“Their careers and commitments at IU Northwest clearly place them in the exclusive company that the titled rank of Chancellor’s Professor defines, and set a challenging standard for future nominees,” said Chancellor William J. Lowe in announcing the honors.

Lowe elected not to choose between the two finalist nominees, Bodmer and Klamen, but decided to recognize both longtime IU Northwest faculty members.

“Based on their applications, it is very difficult to make a meaningful distinction between the two candidates,” he said. “They both have made comparable contributions in their respective fields, both have very strong records and reputations in teaching and student growth, both cross disciplinary boundaries to achieve high levels of integration and integrity as creative teacher-scholars and both have exercised the requisite leadership among faculty colleagues, in service to IU Northwest and the quality of our students’ academic experience. Both candidates have devoted their academic careers to IU Northwest and are outstanding representatives of our fine faculty. It says something about the depth of faculty talent and commitment at our campus that we have two such teacher-scholars among us.”

Bodmer joined the university in 1982 and has taught professional writing, American literature, and children’s and adolescent literature in the English Department. Most of his research has been in the field of children’s literature, specifically on illustrated texts. This academic interest is matched with his work as a printmaker, and he frequently exhibits in Chicago, where his work is currently on display in two shows.

Bodmer has been active in the field of children’s literature, having co-edited one of the major journals in the field, The Lion and the Unicorn, published by Johns Hopkins University, as well as presenting papers here and in England on illustrated texts. He has also published articles on artists such as Maurice Sendak, Walter Crane and Bruno Munari.

“I’m really pleased to get this award, and especially honored since it is named for the Chancellor. I served as president of the Faculty Organization for four years and chair of the English Department for 11 years, and I see this service as being recognized by the position,” Bodmer said. “I think we’re doing important and worthwhile work at our school, and so I am happy that the Chancellor’s Professorship is addressed toward forwarding our mission. I think this new honor brings prestige to our school, and I am proud to be a recipient in its first year.”

Klamen joined IU Northwest in 1985, embarking on twin careers as exhibiting artist and teacher of drawing, painting, fundamental studio, and art theory. He also serves as Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Chair of the Departments of Fine Arts and Performing Arts.

Klamen is an accomplished international artist and is represented by Richard Gray Gallery in New York and Chicago, and Mark Moore Gallery in Los Angeles. His artworks are exhibited in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; among others.

“I am thrilled and honored to have been named Chancellor’s Professor,” Klamen said. “It is an exciting time both for me and in many ways for IU Northwest. The campus has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to growing and promoting academic excellence on campus, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

The idea for the Chancellor’s Professorship originated with Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs David Malik and was heartily endorsed by the Faculty Organization.

Lowe said that the demanding requirements for the Chancellor’s Professorship program are intended to identify and recognize faculty colleagues who “contribute in concrete, demonstrable ways to the development of IU Northwest as an academic community of exceptional quality and integrity, as well as their disciplines, through the creation and application of knowledge.”