In 1994, the Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the Arts, Rhetoric, and Science was named in honor of an individual who has continuously supported the university over many years. This chair helps to bridge the gap in academia between the sciences, the arts, and the humanities disciplines. Chairholders serve for one semester, or the equivalent, allowing a number of individuals from a variety of fields to participate over time. The primary duties of the chairholder are to teach two courses, typically one undergraduate and one graduate, and to present four public lectures/performances.
Anthony J. Nownes, Basler Chair of Excellence, Spring 2025
Upcoming Events!
Date & Time |
Event |
Place |
| Monday, February 17 at 7 PM | "Reflections from the 2024 Election" |
Brown Hall 261 |
| Friday, March 7 at 3 PM | "Where Does All the money Come From? Campaign Finance in the USA and Why It Matters" | D.P. Culp Student Center Forum |
| Monday, March 31 at 7 PM | "Are Interest Groups Good or Bad?" | Rogers-Stout Hall 102 |
| Tuesday, April 22 at 4 P M |
"Do Celebrities Matter in American Politics? The Impact of Celebrity Endorsements in Elections" | Ball Hall 127 |
Biography
Nownes, a professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, holds a Ph.D. from the
University of Kansas. His groundbreaking research focuses on the role of interest groups in American politics, and his 2006
book, “Total Lobbying: What Lobbyists Want (and How They Try to Get It)” remains an
authoritative text in the field.
Nominations
Nominations are solicited from faculty during the spring semester; notification is
distributed to the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences via e-mail. A nomination should
consist of a letter of nomination and the nominee's CV. The letter should justify
the choice, with emphasis on how the individual would contribute to the interdisciplinary
nature of the position, and should address his/her public speaking and ability to
interact with students. It will be assumed that the nominator has consulted with the
individual and determined that he/she would be interested in the position, should
it be offered.
Basler Chair Selection Committee
Melissa Whitaker
Biological Sciences
Lisa Perry
Music
Tema Stauffer
Art & Design
Ante Ursic
Theater & Dance
Frank Hagelberg
Physics & Astronomy
Michele Crumley
Political Science
Previous Basler Chairs
2023-2024 Dr. Caro Novella
2022-2023 Dr. Jason Davis
2021-2022 Dr. Amy Wright
2019-2020 Dr. Mauricio Anton
2018-2019 Dr. Eric Avery
2017-2018 Dr. Liam Campbell
2016-2017 Dr. Karl Hasenstein
2015-2016 Dr. Jeff Todd Titon
2014-2015 Dr. Lee Anne Willson
2013-2014 Mary Jane Jacob
2012-2013 Dr. Thomas Schmickl
2011-2012 Dr. Jennings Bryant
2010-2011 Dr. Molly Faries
2009-2010 Dr. Phillip Rhodes
2008-2009 Dr. Graham Leonard
2007-2008 Ivars Peterson
2006-2007 Dr. George Kampis
2005-2006 Dr. Martin A. Hendry
2004-2005 Mr. Mel Chin
2003-2004 Mr. John Blake, Jr.
2002-2003 Dr. John Shelton Reed
2001-2002 Dr. Anne LaBastille
2000-2001 Dr. George Gale
1999-2000 Lia Alther
1999-2000 Pat Cronin
1998-1999 Corame Richey Mann
1997-1998 Gustavo Perez Firmat
1996-1997 John Bowers