UNF Presents 2010 Distinguished Professor Award

Joanna Norris, Associate Director

Department of Public Relations

(904) 620-2102

The University of North Florida presented Dr. David Fenner, professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, the 2010 Distinguished Professor award last week during the 39^th Annual Fall Convocation Ceremony in the Fine Arts Center Lazzara Performance Hall on campus Friday, Oct. 1.

An Arlington resident, Fenner is the 33rd faculty member at UNF to hold the title of Distinguished Professor, which is an award given to a professor whodemonstrates excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. This award is the highest honor to be conferred upon a UNF faculty member.

 “David brings to bear upon his work—whether it be his scholarship, his teaching or his service—a sharp intellect; a deep commitment to justice and equity; a strong sense of compassion; and a wonderfully self-effacing sense of humor,” said Dr. Mark Workman, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at UNF. “He exemplifies the professional excellence that characterizes each of our distinguished professors and thus is a most worthy recipient of this honor.”

Fenner is a Fellow in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Center for Ethics, Public Policy, and the Professions, and associate dean of the Collegeof Arts and Science. He joined UNF as a visiting assistant professor in 1992, earning tenure in 2001 and a promotion to professor seven years later. He served as interim chair of the Philosophy Department and as dean of the Graduate School. He has taught 27 different courses, primarily general education philosophy, theoretical and applied aesthetics, theoretical and applied ethics, and metaphysics.

In 2001, he was named a UNF Students’ Choice Professor and received a teaching award in 1996. Fenner is an honorary member of Golden Key and a member of Phi Kappa Phi. His scholarship concerns the nature of aesthetic/art experience; recently it has focused on environmental aesthetics, theories about the value of art, and the subjective character of the art experience. He has written and/or edited five books, including “Ethics and the Arts,” The Aesthetic Attitude,” “Ethics in Education,” “Introducing Aesthetics,” and “Art in Context.”

Fenner’s service has focused on diversity and on environmental ethics. He recently served as chair of the Diversity Task Force and, since 2004, as a member of the Women’s Center board. For seven years, he served as faculty advisor for the Sawmill Slough Conservation Club and has hosted the Earth Kinship Conference for six years and more recently a conference on Ethical Aspects of Urban Development in Northeast Florida. He has served on the boards of Tree Hill Nature Center and the Environmental Education Resource Council of Northeast Florida, as well as the Global Leaf Charter School and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Day School boards, and as a Florida Department of Environmental Protection consultant.

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