JCU Honors Distinguished Faculty Awardees

Philip J. Metres III received the Distinguished Faculty Award in the spring of 2021. He joined the JCU. English Department in 2001, after earning an MA, MFA, and Ph.D. from Indiana University. Dr. Metres has written 20 books and published over 400 poems. His work has been widely recognized within the university and at the state and national levels. Dr. Metres is an accomplished translator of contemporary Russian poetry and earned a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2020. 

Chrystal Bruce was named the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award in the spring of 2022. She earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and joined the JCU Department of Chemistry in 2012. For the current Integrative Core, Dr. Bruce developed a popular linked course in the chemistry of poisons, coupled with an English course on detective fiction. Dr. Bruce’s service to JCU includes chairing the Committee on Academic Policies and the search committee for the C.A.S. Dean in 2019-20. Additionally, she played a vital role in the success of the Department of Education’s First in the World program.

Distinguished Faculty Awardees are recognized at commencement, and customarily the University community honors the year’s winner at a specially designated reception, usually late in the spring semester. At least, that was the practice through 2019. Due to the pandemic, the last three ceremonies were postponed until this fall. Please join the JCU community in congratulating Dr. Drenovsky, Dr. Metres, and Dr. Bruce for their outstanding work and contributions to our university.