Dr. Christopher J. Syrnyk, associate professor of Communication at Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) recently received appointment to president of the Western Regional Honors Council (WRHC) during the WRHC Virtual Conference 2021.
The WRHC is comprised of approximately 300 honors colleges and programs at accredited institutions of higher learning located in the 13-state region served by the WRHC. Through sharing information about honors programs, honors colleges and best honors practices regionwide, the WRHC hopes to create an intellectual, programmatic, and administrative network of resources aimed at helping the region’s honors programs and honors colleges grow and thrive.
In addition to his faculty role, Dr. Syrnyk is director of the Oregon Tech Honors Program, which provides Oregon Tech students with a complementary academic curriculum and a collection of extracurricular learning experiences that promote a more well-rounded future career professional, a socially responsible person, and connected and liberally educated student.
Dr. Syrnyk, who was previously the at-large board member, will serve as president for one year, then as past president for one year, and after this service will have the option to continue as the at-large board member on the Executive Board.
“The real highlight of the Virtual Conference was seeing six Oregon Tech Honors Program students, and one of their research peers, present their work at the conference and hearing of their successful presentations,” said Dr. Syrnyk. “For all but one of these students, this was their first academic conference experience. I was very proud of our students: this is what student success looks like.” Dr. Syrnyk expressed that he appreciates the support of Oregon Tech’s faculty and administration who allow him to pursue these opportunities in Honors leadership.
Dr. Syrnyk has been at Oregon Tech since 2012. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Oregon, an additional Master of Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in English, with specialization in Composition and Rhetoric, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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