HONORS
Alumni
“My Honors experience at UGA made a huge impact on my academic life.” John Newell, Ph.D.
Dr. Lothar Tresp, above left, browses for books with Honors Program student John Newell, pictured below in an image taken at the College of Charleston.
Emeritus professor of history and director and dean of the Honors College, College of Charleston
Letter from the unidentified student
T
he “In Memoriam” article on Dr. Lothar Tresp in the spring issue of Honors magazine included a photo of Dr. Tresp with an unidentified student. Soon after the magazine arrived in mailboxes, we received an email from that student, John Newell, now a retired history professor. He was the first dean of the College of Charleston’s Honors College, and he shares below about where life has taken him during the 51 years since his time at UGA. Dear Honors Program, I just read my new issue of the Honors Program magazine. I was saddened to learn of Dr. Tresp’s death, but happy to see the recognition and tribute given him. My wife, Sally, and I were both Honors Program students. I thought you might like to know that I am the unidentified Honors student with him in the middle photograph. The photo was taken in spring of 1968 after I was awarded a Fulbright to study in Germany. Unfortunately, I was not able to use that Fulbright because my draft board denied my request for deferral. However, after serving four years in the Air Force, I went Duke University for a Ph.D. in medieval history and was granted a second Fulbright in 1975. I came to the College of Charleston after earning my Ph.D. in 1978 and remained there until my retirement in 2013. My Honors experience at UGA made a huge impact on my academic life. When the College of Charleston established an Honors Program in 1979, two other colleagues and I established the framework for an interdisciplinary Honors Western Civilization course, which provided a key component to that program through this past academic year. I became director of the Honors Program in 1999 and dean of the Honors College in 2005. I remember Dr. Tresp fondly. I had him for the first half of Honors Western Civilization as well as for a history course on modern Germany. Thanks for the memories! — John Newell
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UGA HONORS PROGRAM MAGAZINE FALL 2019
Career highlights: A medieval European scholar, John Newell: - Graduated cum laude from UGA with a degree in history in 1968. - Served in the Air Force until 1972. - Graduated with his M.A. in history from Duke University in 1973. - Spent 1975-1976 at the University of Munich on a Fulbright-Hays Grant for Study of Medieval Latin Paleography. - Received a Ph.D. in history with a minor in medieval and Renaissance studies from Duke in 1978. - Joined the College of Charleston’s history department in 1978. - Helped found the college’s Honors Program and, in 1999, became its director. - Served as the first dean of the Honors College from 2005 to 2012.
