William Major Receives First Camp Fellowship

William Major, assistant professor of English, has been named the first recipient of the J. Holden Camp Faculty Fellowship at Hillyer College.

The award is the result of an endowment named in honor of recently retired history professor J. Holden Camp. The endowed fellowship was set up to recognize faculty scholarship and creativity in progress. Selection is on a competitive basis decided by Hillyer College chairs and an outside evaluator.

Professor of English John Roderick, chair of this year’s selection committee, said that of the many fine proposals received this year, Major’s stood out for its breadth and for its potential connection to the college’s recently introduced concentration in environmental studies. The award will help support Major’s work on a book about the agrarian movement in America. The fellowship comes with course release time as well as a monetary stipend.

In presenting the fellowship to Major at a recent Hillyer College meeting, University Provost Donna Randall later observed that she was “sure that Jay Camp would be pleased that an award under his name would support such an impressive researcher.”

Major said that he was particularly honored to be the first recipient because the fellowship recognizes the extraordinary contributions that Camp made to Hillyer College and the University as a mentor, educator, and leader for more than 35 years. “I hope that in my own way I can uphold Professor Camp's legacy,” Major said.

Hillyer College Dean David Goldenberg said that he was happy to see the generous support that has flowed to the college from friends, colleagues and alumni to help underwrite this endowed fellowship, and he is delighted with the choice of Major as the first recipient.