Pearl River Community College instructor Dr. Terri Ruckel has been appointed to the Two-Year College Committee of the National Collegiate Honors Council.
“Being appointed to serve on the Two-Year College Committee of the National Collegiate Honors Council is quite an honor for me,” Ruckel said. “Beyond the personal honor, however, this appointment is more evidence that PRCC is producing some of the best honors students in the nation. From my perspective, PRCC is being honored.”
Ruckel has been an Instructor of English for Pearl River’s Forrest County Campus since 2008 and the Dean of the FCC Honors Institute since 2016. She also served as the Honors Coordinator for PRCC FCC from 2014-16. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Southern Mississippi before continuing at USM to receive an M.A. in English with a graduate minor in Women’s Studies. Ruckel also earned a Ph. D. in English from Louisiana State University.
She has represented Pearl River through many presentations and publications on various educational topics throughout the years. In April, she presented “Engaging Your Chapter in a Virtual World” for the Phi Theta Kappa Webinar. Ruckel also recently published “Virtual Journaling Guide” for Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Guide and “Expressions of Truth” for Phi Theta Kappa Honors in Action Program Guide.
“Dr. Terri Ruckel, Dean of the Forrest County Center Honors Institute, will be a huge asset to this committee,” Vice President for Forrest County Center, Allied Health and Nursing Programs Dr. Jana Causey said. “She is committed to helping students, serving our community, and maximizing the opportunities for all of those surrounding her. This committee will benefit from her vast expertise, experience, hard work, and commitment to serving others. We are so excited that she has been selected to represent us on a national level.”
The responsibilities of the Two-Year College Committee of the National Collegiate Honors Council include encouraging and assisting two-year colleges in the development of honors programs, increasing visibility and promoting the value of those programs, identifying and collaborating with other organizations that help develop programs and more.
“This leadership role will require an investment of expertise, time, and resources, and I expect the return on that investment will be reciprocal,” Ruckel said. “Honors leaders across the nation will share their expertise and resources with PRCC Honors. I am very proud to represent PRCC at the table where plans are being made to advance honors education.”
