IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallce

By Rachel Terlep

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – Illinois State University honored IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace with a Department of English Distinguished Alumni Award at a luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015.

Wallace, a 1985 Doctor of Arts in English recipient, received this award in Normal, Ill., as part of Illinois State’s homecoming festivities. He studied at ISU from 1982-85, and his Doctor of Arts degree in English focused on rhetoric and applied linguistics. In addition to his address at the university-wide awards ceremony, Wallace will also speak to faculty, staff and English students at other scheduled homecoming events.

“I am extremely gratified, yet humbled, by this recognition,” Wallace said. “I have always treasured my studies at Illinois State University, and I have tried to mirror the professional qualities embodied by the ISU English faculty over the course of my career. I am so honored to now lead an institution – IU Southeast – with similar scholars educating the next generation of professionals.”

Wallace has published five books, including two award-winning volumes on writing pedagogy, over the course of his career. He has also completed several postdoctoral studies, including a Fulbright-Hayes research project to South Africa, selection to Harvard in the Management and Leadership in Higher Education Program and an appointment to prestigious Japan Foundation-funded research delegation for U.S. educators.

Prior to assuming the Chancellorship at IU Southeast, Wallace served in faculty and administrative positions at universities in Hawaii, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas. Wallace was born in Northern Ireland and is a naturalized U.S. citizen. In his spare time, he is a nature and travel photographer.

Chancellor Ray Wallace (right) with fellow Illinois State University Distinguished Alumni Award honoree freelance journalist Madeline Ostrander.