The Kathryne Amelia Brown Award

The Kathryne Amelia Brown Award was established at Converse College by the late Mr. and Mrs. James Douglas Brown of Ozark, Alabama in memory of their daughter, a member of the class of 1970, to recognize faculty members who have excelled in the classroom. This year, we are pleased to honor with this award Assistant Professor of Philosophy Dr. Kevin DeLapp.

An exceptional teacher, Dr. DeLapp continually looks for ways to improve already very successful courses, using the Socratic Method to encourage critical thinking in the classroom. It is clear that students not only learn a great deal but also enjoy learning in his courses. He likes and respects his students, he is enthusiastic about what he teaches, and students respond to this. He incorporates his own scholarly research into courses, an approach that helps students better understand the process of scholarship. Dr. DeLapp does not force his opinions on students, but instead fosters respectful consideration of different ways of thinking, and encourages students to form their own informed opinions.

Kevin emphasizes excellence in teaching, the importance of student learning, and the promotion of student research. In the past two academic years, he has developed and offered six Directed Independent Study courses. One resulted in a student’s acceptance to graduate study at the University of Washington, with a nomination for a full scholarship. Another two generated student presentations that were accepted at Converse’s “Culturing the Popular” conference. His curricular innovations have resulted in growth in the Philosophy minor and the revival of the Philosophy major. Additionally, he has fostered creative collaboration with interdisciplinary core programs, such as the individualized major program and the Nisbet Honors Program. Dr. DeLapp helped develop Converse’s First Year Seminar program and created a new course for that program. He has also been highly active in creating international study opportunities, having designed and offered four different, popular, and successful study-travel courses in as many years. He also served as Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the University of Iceland, promoting Converse’s relationship with that institution.