Newest William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, Grisham Master Teachers honored at MSU
Contact: Mary Pollitz
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State celebrated three faculty members Thursday [Aug. 28] with two of the university’s most prestigious teaching honors.
Christopher Snyder has been named a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, and Kelly Moser and Holli H. Seitz are the university’s newest Grisham Master Teachers.
“We recognize, truly, the best of the best. We have world class faculty members here at Mississippi State,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “We could not be more blessed with our faculty and their passion and commitment to instruction of their students, but they also truly care for our students.”
The William L. Giles Distinguished Professor distinction is one of the highest honors the university can bestow upon a faculty member in recognition of outstanding research, teaching and service. The title is conferred only on an MSU faculty member who has attained national or international recognition.
Snyder is a professor of history and director of British studies in the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, where he served as the college’s founding dean. Under his leadership, the honors college doubled in size, developed a rigorous liberal arts-based curriculum and expanded student success, mentoring recipients of Rhodes, Truman, Fulbright, and other prestigious scholarships. His interdisciplinary research spans medieval history, Arthurian legend, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and the liberal arts. His public-facing works—including “The Making of Middle-earth” and “Gatsby’s Oxford”—have earned acclaim for their accessibility and scholarly depth. He has presented his research around the world, held a fellowship at the University of Oxford and been featured in programming by the Smithsonian Institution, History Channel, BBC, National Geographic and The Learning Channel.
First presented in 1993, the Grisham Master Teacher honor is a tribute to classroom and instruction excellence—named for the MSU accounting alumnus and internationally recognized best-selling author who provided funds to endow the award.
Moser is an associate professor of Spanish and world language teaching in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures within MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. She is regarded as an innovative teacher with the ability to inspire and motivate students. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, she serves as her department’s graduate coordinator and a mentor for students and aspiring educators in her field.
Seitz is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre also in the College of Arts and Sciences. She additionally serves as a mentor for students in the Shackouls Honors College, advising Presidential Scholars with curriculum, research, thesis development and graduate school planning. She is director of the Message Laboratory at MSU’s Social Science Research Center. In the classroom, Seitz teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, earning praise across levels for her compassionate teaching style, flexibility and student-centered approach.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.