Published on March 15, 2011  

A contest essay by Samford University History professor Jason Wallace was one of six selected for publication in the Alabama Humanities Review. 

The contest for the Alabama Humanities Foundation's 2011 Whetstone-Seaman Faculty Development Award solicited papers on the theme of "Civility: What Does it Mean in the 21st Century Debate?"  

A selection committee composed of humanities scholars reviewed the papers blindly, selected the top six for publication in the Alabama Humanities Review, selected a winner among those and invited the honorees to attend a March 25 forum titled “Daring to Defend Our Rights: A Discussion of Civility in Alabama Public Life.”  

Howard College of Arts and Sciences dean David Chapman nominated Wallace to contribute an essay. "All of us who have worked closely with Dr. Wallace are aware of his tremendous gifts as a scholar and teacher," Chapman said. "The Whetstone-Seaman honor is evidence that he is now being recognized as one of the finest young professors in our state."

Wallace, who was honored with Samford's 2011 Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award in February, said he looks forward to representing Samford and the humanities at the Montgomery event. "Humanities disciplines are responsible for recovering and maintaining those perennial ideas about human nature and the human good that make civil society possible," he said. "I'm glad to be part of the conversation in Alabama." 

The March 25 forum will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Alabama Power Auditorium at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery. The forum is co-sponsored by AHF and the David Matthews Center for Civic Life.  

Contest winner Nick Jones of the University of Alabama-Huntsville will present his paper at the forum. His presentation will be followed by responses from five Alabamians, including noteworthy Alabama historian and Anniston Star columnist Dr. Harvey H. Jackson; media personality Tim Lennox; Birmingham entrepreneur and author Shelley Stewart; Central High School (Phenix City) gifted education teacher Barbara Romey; and David Mathews Center for Civic Life intern/Auburn University student Alexandria Smith. Christopher McCauley of the David Mathews Center will moderate discussion.
There is no cost to attend the forum and refreshments will be served beginning at 9:30 a.m.  

For more information, contact the Mathews Center at (205) 665-9005 or the Alabama Humanities Foundation at (205) 558-3993.  

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.