GREENEVILLE – An experienced business professor and businessman who recently joined the Tusculum University faculty has also been named director of the institution’s Honors Program.
Dr. John Alpers, assistant professor of business, will lead students who are focused on being challenged intellectually and sharpening their critical thinking skills while gaining cultural enrichment and advancement of networking skills.
“We are pleased to entrust this important academic program to Dr. Alpers, who will inspire students to more fully develop their knowledge and enrich their personal lives,” said Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Through his work with the students, Dr. Alpers will help them become stronger career-ready professionals and recognize their potential bestowed by God. He will be an outstanding asset for our students.”
Dr. Alpers said the Honors Program will provide the best and brightest students with additional academic and cultural experiences in a caring Christian environment that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. The rigorous nature of the Honors Program will increase the impact and application of their degree, he said.
The Honors Program empowers students to participate in thought-provoking honors seminar courses and earn an honors minor. They also have the ability to self-select honors courses within their major and work one-on-one with their professors to develop honors components to them. In addition, they choose to write an honors thesis, create an honors portfolio or participate in an honors internship course.
Students who are Honors Program members have a competitive advantage when they begin a career or graduate school studies.
“My goal is to share my varied background with students, which will expand their knowledge and help them further their careers in any way possible,” Dr. Alpers said. “We need more Christian leaders everywhere these days, and my goal as the Honors Program director is to foster students’ growth in this area so they can positively influence the communities where they live and work after graduation.”
Dr. Alpers wants to challenge the students even more so they can deploy their degree to a greater extent. In line with the university’s mission, Dr. Alpers seeks to provide practical experiences students can use to put their degrees to use in real-life settings.
He also would like to connect with local businesses and alumni and learn what qualities they want job candidates to possess. Through these relationships, he hopes to help students find jobs in whatever field interests them. Another aspiration for Dr. Alpers is to show the value and impact Christian businesses can and do have in society.
The Honors Program has attracted multitudes of students, and Dr. Alpers seeks to grow the numbers further.
“This increase will help current and future students,” Dr. Alpers said. “Once these students graduate, understand the value of the program and become leaders in their chosen profession, it will be easier for future students to make connections and potentially enhance their careers with these contacts.”
Dr. Alpers comes to Tusculum with more than 20 years of teaching experience. Prior to joining the Tusculum family, Dr. Alpers’ classroom résumé included teaching at Carson-Newman University, Strayer University, the University of Phoenix and Tennessee Wesleyan University, all as a business professor. He also has 27 years of experience in business. He worked for Clayton Homes/Vanderbilt Mortgage and Marriott Business Services and served as a consultant, mostly with small businesses in the Knoxville area.
“Tusculum is an excellent university with a curriculum replete with research and active and experiential learning opportunities,” Dr. Alpers said. “At the same time, the university bolsters the coursework with a Christian perspective that enables students to recognize their calling and purpose. Our Honors Program takes all of that to another level, equipping our students with the tools they need to succeed in their lives.”
Additional information about the Honors Program is available at https://site.tusculum.edu/honors/. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.
Cutline for Honors Program: Dr. John Alpers stands in front of the Thomas J. Garland Library at Tusculum University.
