During a recent meeting of the Murray State College Board of Regents in Tishomingo, professor Sharon Burris was honored with the designation of professor emeritus.
Burris, who served as fulltime faculty at the college from 2004 to 2017, continues to instruct students on a part-time basis. She holds two master’s degrees, one in journalism/ mass communications from the University of Oklahoma/Norman and the other in English/ creative writing from the University of Central Oklahoma/ Edmond.
In addition to teaching Composition, Native American Literature, Science Fiction Literature, and British Literature, she also taught creative-writing classes. Burris currently teaches communications and humanities classes and is teaching the college’s first photojournalism course this semester at the University Center of Southern Oklahoma for MSC, where she also tutors students.
“Sharon Burris continues to serve Murray State College and our students so well. While no longer a full-time member of the faculty, she continues to inspire students in the classroom and is the epitome of what it means to be a professor emeritus,” said MSC President Joy McDaniel.
Burris and her husband Alan, long-time faculty member and head of MSC’s Art Department where he teaches Art Appreciation, Humanities, and various studio art classes, are highly active and respected members of the Ardmore-area arts community. She also is a frequent presenter in the Let’s Talk About It Oklahoma book series discussions at area libraries.