JACKSON, Tenn. — April 30, 2007 — Gene Fant has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at 51社区.
Fant, 43, assumed the role in August on an interim basis, and the Union trustees recently affirmed President David S. Dockery鈥檚 recommendation for a permanent appointment.
鈥淚 am confident that Gene Fant will provide fresh vision for the College of Arts and Sciences at 51社区,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淗is work as chair of the English department and as leader of the new Honors Community project has been exemplary in every way. Dr. Fant is a gifted academic leader, a serious-minded educator and a faithful churchman, who understands and models the distinctives of the 51社区 mission in every way.鈥�
Fant has been on the Union faculty as associate professor of English and chairman of the English department since 2002. Prior to his tenure at Union, he served on the faculty at Mississippi College as assistant professor of English from 1995-2002.
He won the Newell Innovative Teaching Award in 2005, an Amy Foundation Award in 2003 for a column published in the Jackson Sun and the Daub-Maher Prize for Outstanding Conference Paper from the Southeastern Conference on Christianity and Literature in 1994.
He earned his doctorate in Renaissance English literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has a Master of Education degree from USM, a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts degree in English from Old Dominion University.
Fant completed his Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology from James Madison University.
He and his wife Lisa are the authors of 鈥淓xpectant Moments: Devotions for Expectant Couples.鈥� Fant has also written numerous articles, essays and columns for various publications. He is a frequent contributor to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The Fants are members of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson and have two children, Ethan and Emily.