June Henton, College of Human Sciences Dean Emerita, Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
June Henton, College of Human Sciences Dean Emerita, (c) with (l-r)Susan Hubbard, Dean of College of Human Sciences, Jennifer Kerpleman, Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies, Joe Pittman, Professor Erimitus, Harriet Giles, Professor Emeritus, Connor Lowry and Mac Lowry.
Harriet Giles, June Henton, College of Human Sciences Dean Emerita, and Susan Hubbard, Dean, College of Human Sciences at APLU.
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Board on Human Sciences (BoHS) has awarded June Henton, dean emerita of the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University, the 2019 APLU Board on Human Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award.
The APLU is an organization that advocates for and advances the work of public higher education across the continent. Each year, the APLU Board on Human Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award goes to a nationally-recognized leader who has historically advanced the human sciences in higher education. Henton was recognized for her leadership, prolific research and championing of initiatives that promote the study of the human sciences during her more than three decades-long tenure at Auburn University.
As dean of the College of Human Sciences, Henton supported a number of successful initiatives to advance the study of human sciences and improve quality of life worldwide. She was instrumental in establishing the National Textile Center University Research Consortium, which the U.S. Congress would later call ‘a model for America.’ Her success in globalizing students’ worldview is evident in her work building the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program and Global Studies degree program. At the time of her retirement earlier this year, more than 50 percent of all CHS graduates left with study abroad experience.
In addition, the creation of a Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies degree program followed in the success of the Women’s Philanthropy Board and the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, two initiatives Henton spearheaded. The Hospitality Management degree program, which Henton oversaw the founding of, is one of only 74 programs in the world accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.
Beyond Auburn, the initiatives that Henton saw to fruition continue to improve quality of life around the nation and the world at large. The Auburn University War on Hunger – which produced coalitions including Universities Fighting World Hunger, Presidents United to Solve Hunger, and End Child Hunger in Alabama – began through a partnership with the U.N. World Food Programme and continues its life-changing work out of the office of the Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn University. In addition, the International Quality of Life Awards, which honors people and partnerships who have made significant and lasting contributions to individual, family and community well-being, will celebrate its 26th year this December.
Throughout her career as an educator, Henton served on several academic journal editorial boards and published prolific research on marriage and family issues. She has also served as chair of the APLU Board on Human Sciences.