- January 10th, 2024
Dr. Darren Surman has been named director of the Achieve Scholars Program at The University of Alabama Honors College.
Dr. Tiffany Sippial, UA Honors College Dean, made the announcement in late December and expressed her confidence in Surman becoming the new director.
“Dr. Surman’s richly deserved appointment reflects his outstanding contributions to the program, displaying not only a deep understanding of our mission, but also a commitment to the continued success and growth of the Achieve Scholars,” Dean Sippial said. “His strategic vision and transformative leadership have already made a significant impact, and I am confident that under his guidance, the program will reach new heights.”
The Achieve Scholars Program is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to acquire an education in transdisciplinary research methodology. In doing so, students will learn how to apply such methods and become more effective scholars within their major field of study; will become proficient in the skills of uniting all fields of study which will help them to become creative thinkers and problem solvers; and will also gain the skills that are necessary for successful graduate studies, professional studies and future employment.
Dr. Surman is also an Assistant Professor in the Honors College. He holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a Ph.D. in Political Science, both from The University of Alabama. His primary research interests are the writings of Soren Kierkegaard, the political theory of love, ancient and contemporary political theory, political theology, and the politics of transdisciplinarity. He teaches a wide range of courses that explore the intersections between these schools of thought such as, “Political Theories of Love”, “Work, Play, and Meaning”, and “Green Political Thought”. His work has been published in the Soren Kierkegaard Newsletter and the journal, Rivista di Filosofia Neo-Scolastica.
