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Professor Thomas W. Porter was presented with a Faculty Certificate of Appreciation at the Society of Alumni Fall Workshop on Friday, September 7, 2012. The award was presented by Robert Lambeth ’71, chair of the Society of Alumni’s Awards Committee.
Porter earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in British History from Northern Illinois University.
Porter joined the faculty at Randolph-Macon College in 1974. In addition to his duties as professor of history, he held many administrative positions during his 38-year tenure at the college. Porter served as acting dean of the college, associate dean of the college, dean of institutional planning, chair of the college’s strategic planning committee, director of the Asian Studies program, and chair of the History Department.
Porter’s areas of specialty include Nineteenth Century Britain (Chartism & Ernest Jones), and Modern China. A partial list of his accomplishments includes the following: He participated in a Fulbright Summer Seminar in China; he received the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Professor Award; he was a Danforth Associate; he attended the Conference on British Studies Society for the Study of Labor History; and he served as President of the Randolph-Macon Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
Porter’s sense of humor is legendary. In the past, he has teamed up with faculty emeriti George Oliver and James Scanlon to keep R-MC students on their toes. During the recent retirement luncheon where he was recognized for his many years of service to the college, he donned an array of hats depicting the many roles he has held over the years.
Randolph-Macon College thanks Porter for the positive impact he has had on countless students, and for his unflagging service to the college.