RECOGNITION

Emeritus Faculty

The honorary title of emeritus may be awarded by the Board of Trustees to retiring faculty in recognition of outstanding service to Friends University and its students. Faculty must have served at least 10 years in a full-time capacity. This year, two faculty members are receiving the emeritus distinction.

Dr. James “Jim” Knight, a 1982 Friends University graduate, served in a variety of roles during his more than 25 years with the university. Dr. Knight joined Friends University in 1989 and went on to serve as marketing director for the College of Adult and Professional Studies, marketing director for the graduate majors in the College of Business, and lead faculty in the business management program in the College of Adult & Professional Studies. Dr. Knight retired from Friends University in 2015. Prior to his time at Friends, Dr. Knight served as an assistant administrator and regional director in the healthcare field. He also had experience running a small business in the food service industry.

Dr. Steven Rathbun served as faculty member in the Master of Science in Family Therapy (MSFT) program from 1990 until 2023. In addition to being a tenured professor, Dr. Rathbun is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. He helped to expand the MSFT program within Wichita and later to the Kansas City area. His leadership in the MSFT program includes serving as Clinical Director and Program Director, contributing to at least two comprehensive curriculum revisions, and successfully leading the program through the professional reaccreditation process. Dr. Rathbun has served the Marriage and Family Therapy profession within the state of Kansas as president of the Kansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and by serving on the Marriage and Family Therapy Advisory Board for the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.

Faculty Awards

W.A. Young Award for Teaching Excellence

Friends University students, faculty and staff nominate full-time faculty members for the W. A. Young Award for Excellence in Teaching. The annual award was established in 1963 in honor of Walter A. Young who served as a Friends University history professor (1925-35), academic dean (1935-39) and president (1939-46).

The award recipient is selected for demonstrating scholarship and continuing professional growth; superior classroom presentations, motivation of student interest and capacity to inspire student scholarship; skillful course planning, providing sufficient direction with desired flexibility to enable genuine learning; and spiritual qualities of authentic Christianity paralleling the goals of Friends University for his/her students. A committee of past award recipients selects the honoree each year.

Jan LaFever Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award

Students, faculty and staff nominate members of adjunct faculty for the Jan LaFever Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award. The award was established in 1999 in memory of Jan LaFever, a long-time member of the English department adjunct faculty. The award recipient is selected for demonstrating extraordinary service to the University’s mission and students and must have taught as a member of adjunct faculty for at least one year.