Faculty Honors Advisors
Faculty Honors Advisors

Faculty Honors Advisors (FHAs) are regular faculty members in disciplinary units, who guide honors students in their unit. They are the link between the Barrett and disciplinary units, and ths, invaluable members of the Honors Faculty at ASU. Faculty Honors Advisors have served honors students, their units, and Barrett for many years without financial compensation. Beginning this year, we will compensate FHAs financially at a level tailored to the size of the honors student cohort in their units. At the same time, we hope to formalize the expectations of that position. We would like financially supported FHAs to:

  • Meet with BHC students every year (either individually or a few times with the group). Several departments have found that meetings of all honors students benefit the younger students substantially. For help with this meeting contact Kristen Nielsen (KNielsen@asu.edu or 727-6175).


  • Host a meeting each year to discuss the honors thesis process, including all upper division honors students in your unit. You may want to include faculty who have directed thesis/creative projects. We would be happy to attend and even willing to organize the meeting for you. For help contact Peggy Nelson (MNelson@asu.edu or 965-9520) or Kristen Nielsen (KNielsen@asu.edu or 727-6175).


  • Direct students to faculty who match their interests and might be willing to work with them on research, internships, thesis/creative projects. We have a research section of our website and internship office. If you would like help listing your research opportunities or advertising them to students, contact Peggy Nelson (MNelson@asu.edu or 965-9520. If you would like help listing your internships or advertising them to students, contact Jill Johnson (Jill.Johnson@asu.edu or 727-6993).


  • Formulate and update a document that describes the honors experience in your unit. This can include courses that are available as footnote 18 contracts, honors seminars, faculty who wish to work with honors students, research and internship opportunities. We have examples of such documents from different units, if you wish to use them. Please contact Kristen Nielsen (KNielsen@asu.edu or 727-7165) for assistance.


  • Formulate and update a document that educates honors students about the thesis/creative project experience in your unit, including: what constitutes a thesis/creative project within your unit, what advantages are gained in career graduate/professional school opportunities, what preparation is necessary for working on a thesis/creative project (skills, coursework), which faculty are interested in working with honors students on the thesis/creative project, and who should honors students speak with when considering a thesis in your unit. We have a general thesis handbook posted on our website. For help formulating this document, contact Peggy Nelson (MNelson@asu.edu or 965-9520) or Kristen Nielsen (KNielsen@asu.edu or 727-7165).


  • Meet with prospective students (mostly national scholars) who are being recruited to Barrett and your unit. You can also simply tell us who the prospective student should meet with. If you have questions about recruiting contact Michelle Hollin (Michelle.Hollin@asu.edu or 480-965-1520.


  • Attend one meeting each semester in Barrett to provide feedback to the College, discuss issues with the HFAs in other units, and get updates.