The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences has honored English professors Ángel García, Irvin Hunt, and Justine Murison with named scholar positions in recognition of their contributions to research and education at the University of Illinois.

Ángel García was named a Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar. The LEAP award is presented to early-career faculty to recognize their scholarly productivity and contributions to the educational mission of their departments and the College of LAS. These scholars hold the title for two years and receive discretionary research funding each year.

Irvin Hunt has been honored as a Conrad Humanities Scholar, which recognizes promising mid-career scholars and provides financial support for continued achievement, research, and scholarship in humanities. Irvin Hunt studies how Black public intellectuals have promoted cooperative economics in Black communities between the late 19th century and the 1970s. His new book, “Dreaming of the Present: Time, Aesthetics, and the Black Cooperative Movement,” was a finalist for the Best New Book in African American History and Culture from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Hunt creatively challenges his students and also serves as Dean’s Fellow in Inclusive Excellence. He has helped to support the growth of African American studies at the U of I. The designation is for five years. The awards are funded by a gift from the late Arlys Conrad (AB, ’44, education).

Justine S. Murison has been named an LAS Distinguished Professorial Scholar, which is awarded to excellent faculty who are under consideration to be promoted from associate to full professor. Receivers hold the title for one academic year along with a funding award for their research and teaching.

Editor's note: The Conrad Humanities Scholars and LEAP and LAS Distinguished Professorial Scholar announcements were originally published by the College of LAS.