Nature of Giving
Taught by Ron Pitcock and Sarah Vartabedian
Department of Honors Colloquium

Ron Pitcock is the Interim Dean of the John V. Roach Honors College and the J. Vaughn and Evelyn H. Wilson Honors Fellow at Texas Christian University, where he also serves as the Director of Prestigious Scholarships. He earned his A.B. at Wabash College, M.A. at Indiana State University, and his Ph.D. in English and American Literature, with specializations in American Rhetoric, Literacy, and Culture, at the University of Kentucky.

At TCU, Dr. Pitcock has taught an array of undergraduate courses and graduate seminars on rhetoric, writing, literacy, and literature. His research examines issues in writing pedagogy and nineteenth-century US literacy. In recent years, Dr. Pitcock has pursued efforts to enhance the teaching and learning that Honors students experience at TCU. In 2003, Dr. Pitcock was named “Honors Professor of the Year” at TCU. In 2002, he received the “Promising Researcher Award” from the National Council of Teachers of English. Most recently, Dr. Pitcock received the 2010 Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community. TCU students also voted Dr. Pitcock as recipient of the 2009 TCU Inspirational Professor Award presented by EECU. Dr. Pitcock has received teaching awards at the University of Kentucky, Indiana State University, and TCU; citations from the Conference on College Communication and Composition; and fellowships given by Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2012, The Princeton Review named Dr. Pitcock as one of the Best 300 Professors in the United States.

Sarah Vartabedian, Ph.D. is a professor and executive speaker coach with over 15 years of classroom and consulting experience. Her clients include Fortune 100 c-suite executives in retail, transportation, and technology. She has won numerous awards for her teaching and publications.