Executive Director Update: Fall 2024

By Kala Dunn | Aug 22, 2024

Hello alumni! My name is Jessica Naber, and as of July 1, I am the new Murray State Honors College Director. With a couple of months under my belt, I can say I am so happy about this new position and feel that the Honors College has a positive and bright year ahead. Dominique Suiter and Hannah Durbin, Academic Counselors in the Honors Office, Lori Rogers (who has been in the office for more than 30 years!), and some excellent student workers have been instrumental in helping me get adjusted.

We have had a very exciting August in the Honors College! We kicked off the 24-25 academic year with two retreats held at Brandon Springs Group Center in Dover, TN. The first retreat, Honors Prime, held August 5-7, had 33 attendees who are new incoming Honors College students. The second retreat, held August 12-14, had 16 attendees who are new incoming Presidential Fellows. Several current Honors College students attended each retreat to help out as well. Both retreats included team-building activities, an exciting murder mystery, outdoor recreation including canoeing and swimming, and tips and advice from Honors College faculty and students. Both retreats were excellent for building connections between and among students, as well as getting them engaged in the Honors College community and Murray State.

Honors 101 took place August 16-August 19, in the few days before Fall 2024 classes began. For Honors 101, incoming Honors College students were assisted with move-in by Honors Faculty, Staff, and Students. They were also invited to Winslow for a group dinner, and to Franklin Commons for a reception and games. On Saturday, breakfast was served in the Quad, the famous Racer One was available for photos, and Honors Faculty led students through a rotation of interesting and fun problem-solving activities and student panels. On Monday, an academic orientation meeting was held, and that night, an ice cream social outside at Franklin wrapped up the event.

Classes began on Tuesday, August 20, and new students have seemed very excited to get the ball rolling on their first semester! The Honors Student Council (HSC) had their first meeting of the semester on August 20 in the Franklin Commons, and they meet weekly. HSC plans social events, such as an Honors College formal, as well as other fun activities throughout the year. All Honors College students are invited to attend each week.

Other Honors College activities planned for the semester include a group excursion to the Homeplace in Land Between the Lakes, potential trips for Kentucky Honors Roundtable, Scholars Week, Family Weekend, football game tailgates, Homecoming, and All Campus Sing. The entire Honors College staff is enthusiastic about the year ahead!

Working as Director has brought back so many fond Honors College memories for me. I joined the Honors College (known as Honors Program at the time) in 1997 as a new Freshman at Murray State. I remember our overnight retreat on campus right before school started and the relationships that began to develop early on. Being part of Honors Student Council was another fun extracurricular that also allowed more connections to be made. We always loved our time with Dr. Mark Malinauskas and Lori Rogers—Lori has been a friend to so many Honors students over the years! There were around 80 Honors students back in 1997, and our currently Honors enrollment is 540. There has been a lot of growth and with that has come more relationship building, opportunities, and enrichment of the lives of college students. I am really grateful to be a part of all of this!

- Dr. Jessica Naber, Executive Director