The Chowan University Board of Trustees authorized emeritus status for three retired faculty members who retired from their teaching positions on May 31, 2020. This honor is bestowed by the University to recognize a recently retired professor’s dedication and distinguished career at Chowan. Approved for faculty emeritus designation are J Brabban, Christina Rupsch, and Tom Brennan. 

Professor J Brabban, E. Lee Oliver Fagan Distinguished Professor of Bible, had an impressive twenty-year career teaching at Chowan. Not only did Dr. Brabban serve at some point in his storied tenure as both the Religion and Music Department’s Chair, he was also instrumental in establishing and nurturing the University’s study abroad trips and Ethics Bowl team. In recognition of Professor J Brabban's long and committed service to Chowan University and his profession in the areas of teaching, advising, and service, the Board of Trustees grants Professor Brabban the title and position of Professor Emeritus of Religion, with the all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereto. 

Professor Christina Rupsch, Distinguished Professor of Art, taught at Chowan in three intervals, first serving with the Department of Visual Arts 1994-1999, 2003-2008, then returned to Chowan to serve as the Dean of Chowan’s School of Fine and Applied Arts.  During her tenure, Professor Rupsch was awarded the 2017- 2018 Faculty Excellence in Community Service Award as well as the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2020), the university’s most prestigious faculty award. She is now retired after a collective twelve years of service to Chowan. In recognition of Professor Christina Rupsch's long and committed service to the University and her profession in the areas of teaching, the Board of Trustees confers upon Professor Rupsch the title and position of Professor Emeritus of Art, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereto. 

Professor Tom Brennan, James L. Knight Associate Professor of Printing Technology, joined the faculty of Graphic Communications in 1993 and served three years as chair. After a brief hiatus, Brennan returned to Graphic Communications again as chair in 2012. The McDowell Columns Scholar Prize Award winner was recognized as an incredible leader and artist among his coworkers and known by Chowan’s students as a champion for them succeeding in their fields of study. In recognition of Professor Thomas Brennan's long and committed service to the University and his profession in the areas of teaching, advising, and service, the Board of Trustees confers upon Professor Brennan the title and position of Professor Emeritus of Graphic Communications, with the all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereto.

“Professor emeritus status is designed to honor a professor who has served the university with distinction over a period of years through retirement, and all three have made significant contributions to their academic area and the University as a whole,” said Dr. Danny Moore, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. “We are grateful for their service to Chowan and are honored to bestow this distinction.”