After nearly a decade at the helm of SIUC’s English department, chairman Richard Peterson is stepping down to make way for his predecessor to return to the position.

John M. Howell, an SIUC English professor who served as department chairman from 1982 to 1986 just before Peterson began the first of his three 3-year terms, will return to that position this fall.

Howell, who has taught at SIUC since he received his Ph.D. from Tulane University in 1963, said he is looking forward to maintaining the strengths Peterson helped establish in the department.

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We’ve hired a lot of outstanding faculty scholars, teachers, scholar-teachers, Howell said. I hope to continue that process and expand on it. Nothing very dramatic, because the department’s very strong right now.

Peterson said the SIUC English faculty elected Howell to the position last spring.

Peterson said Howell’s past experience as department chairman will serve him well when he returns to that position this fall.

see HOWELL, page 7