Jeff Wilson Receives 2018 Outstanding Faculty Award

Published: April 13, 2021

Greenville University Professor of Music Jeff Wilson typically expects to direct the choir in special performances during Commencement and lead the audience in singing the national anthem.

But at the Universitys afternoon Commencement service Saturday, May 12, he was clearly surprised when Vice President of Academic Affairs Brian Hartley called him forward unexpectedly: this time to receive the W. Richard Stephens Outstanding Faculty Award.

Wilson, a 22-year veteran of the faculty, holds a doctor of musical arts in choral conducting and literature from the University of Illinois. He teaches voice, conducting and choral techniques and serves as choirmaster. He also plays the organ and conducts the Sanctuary Choir for the Greenville Free Methodist Church.

Wilson will soon assume the presidency of the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

Students initiate the nomination process for this award by submitting essays about nominees. Prior awardees review the essays and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Trustees make the final selection.

Certain themes emerged in students nominations of Wilson, including his drive for excellence and his passion for Jesus Christ, his family and music.

Graduating senior Mandy Pennington called her participation in choir under Wilsons direction a life-changing experience that transcended vocal techniques to include a ministry to our hearts.

Hartley added his own observations based on his travels with the choir: Jeff is a consummate professional, but with a heart attuned to Gods. Traveling in the choir bus is like taking to the road in a chapel on wheels . . . Jeff Wilson is the model faculty member, providing for our students an embodied example of Christs love on a daily basis.

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