Volz's interest in African history began when he was stationed in Botswana with the Peace Corps after he finished his undergraduate degree. "That's what really set the stage for a lifetime interest in Africa because it was such an eye-opening experience," he said. Volz said his father was the main reason that he developed an interest in history. When he was eight years old, Volz traveled to England with his father, a history professor, and still has fond memories of his family of seven traveling around in a VW camper, stopping at virtually every ruin and castle and cathedral they came across. "My dad would give us a personal tour of these ruins," he said. "From a very early age, history has always been a very real, tangible thing [for me]."
Botswana RPCV Stephen Volz Awarded Tenure Position at Kenyon College
Five Assistant Professors Awarded Tenure Positions
August Steigmeyer
Issue date: 5/6/10 Section: News
Five professors received tenure this year: Galina An of the Economics Department, Read Baldwin of the Art Department, Sarah Heidt of the English Department, Kimmarie Murphy of the Anthropology Department and Stephen Volz of the History Department.
Kenyon has a system that includes three ranks of professor: assistant, associate and full professor. After six years at Kenyon, professors are required to submit a dossier so that they can be evaluated for promotion. This will include letters from students, colleagues who have visited the professor's classes and some external evaluations from people in that individual's field of study. A committee of Kenyon faculty review the files, then make recommendations for promotion to the president and provost. Serving on that committee is, for faculty, the "most difficult [service to the College] in terms of time commitment and also the most valued," according to President S. Georgia Nugent.
The promotion to receive tenure is considered through three categories: teaching, service to the College and research. If the professor fails to meet one or more of these areas, he or she is given a one-year period where the professor continues teaching at Kenyon but must look for another job after that year.
"It's very important that if students are contacted and asked to write a letter that they do," Nugent said. "We have a hard time getting all those letters into the dossier because a lot of students don't respond."
If the professor is promoted, he or she will have tenure, which is essentially employment for life at Kenyon. About six years after that (although this time can vary) the faculty member can apply to be considered for promotion to full professor. "Most times that is successful because the person is gauging when they are ready to take that step," according Nugent.
"Our tenuring rate is very high; very few candidates fail," Nugent said. "A lot of people here would say that's because our pre-tenure evaluation systems are strong so someone can see that they are not on the path to success and may leave before they get to that point. If you get too low that's not good, and if you get too high then I worry about quality control."
On the Promotion
"I'm very happy to be promoted; it gives me a sense of permanence," Volz said. "It's nice to feel welcomed, being invited to stay here indefinitely."
Past Education
Volz received his undergraduate degree in history at Valpraiso University with minors in German and philosophy. He taught high school and worked to get his Master's degree in teaching from Washington University in St. Louis. After he earned his Ph.D in history at University of Wisconsin, Madison, he came to teach at Kenyon.
Why Kenyon?
"It was more Kenyon chose me," said Volz, who started out as a one-year visitor as Kenyon conducted a search for a tenure-track replacement for the previous African history professor. "I put my name in the hat, got a foot in the door and thankfully got the position," he said. "When I was in grad school I was really hoping to end up at a liberal arts college." Volz said he liked Kenyon because of the opportunities to do research and the quality of the students. Kenyon also offered Volz the possibility of teaching only African history classes, something other liberal arts schools did not offer him. "It's given me opportunities to develop new classes," he said. "I think it's helped me grow as a teacher and as a scholar."
Inspirations
Volz said his father was the main reason that he developed an interest in history. When he was eight years old, Volz traveled to England with his father, a history professor, and still has fond memories of his family of seven traveling around in a VW camper, stopping at virtually every ruin and castle and cathedral they came across. "My dad would give us a personal tour of these ruins," he said. "From a very early age, history has always been a very real, tangible thing [for me]."
Volz's interest in African history began when he was stationed in Botswana with the Peace Corps after he finished his undergraduate degree. "That's what really set the stage for a lifetime interest in Africa because it was such an eye-opening experience," he said.
Favorite Hobbies
Volz said he likes to play soccer with intramural teams at Kenyon whenever he can. He also enjoys riding his bike on the Kokosing Gap Trail.
Fond Teaching Memories
Volz said he does not have any particularly fond teaching memories but said he is always trying to foster an interest in African history in Kenyon students. "It's always gratifying when students go abroad for a semester in Africa," he said.
Next on the Academic Calendar
Volz said he is looking forward to teaching his seminar in modern South Africa in the fall, which is a personal area of expertise for him. He said he has also been talking with Vernon Schubel, the NEH distinguished teaching professor of religious studies, about starting a class about Islam in Africa that will contribute to the Islamic civilizations concentration
Summer Plans
"The highlight of my summer will be visiting South Africa for [the] first two weeks," said Volz, who also has tickets to the U.S. vs. England soccer match in Botwsana. He also has a book that he is contracted to finish by the end of the summer.
Additional reporting by Sarah Friedman, Kali Greff and Matthew Niederhuber.
