Delony named Culp Distinguished Professor

Posted March 21, 2014

Dr. Mikee Delony, associate professor of English at ACU, has been named the James W. Culp Distinguished Professor for 2014-17. Named after the former chair of ACU’s English department, the endowed professorship recognizes Delony as a Christian scholar, role model and mentor.

Dr. Delony says she didn’t start out to be an English teacher – or any kind of teacher. In fact, she went straight from high school to the workforce, and it was years before she began to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

When she started college, Delony intended to earn her B.A. and stop there. But as she discovered how much she loved learning about English literature, she realized she had a gift for teaching it.

“A friend once told me that when you find your gift, it gives you energy,” she said. “That’s what teaching does for me. There’s just so much to talk about and discuss – there’s always a conversation to be had. Teaching is the most wonderful, energizing thing I’ve ever done.”

In 1986, friends and former students established the endowed professorship to honor Dr. James Culp (’49), while honoring a distinguished language and literature faculty member. Culp specified that the income from the endowment be used for research and academic support to allow the recipient to engage in reflection and study of his or her field.

Culp was the first to hold the professorship, from 1986 until his retirement in 1992. Since then, recipients have included Dr. Darryl Tippens, Dr. Gay Barton, Dr. Steve Weathers, Al Haley and Dr. Chris Willerton.