Dennis Merrill has a knack for inspiring graduate student learning especially when it comes to the history of foreign relations. This is likely one reason why he won the 2012 Outstanding Interdisciplinary Faculty Award. The recipient of this award is selected by students in the UMKC Interdisciplinary PhD program. According to a letter of nomination by a graduate student for the Outstanding Interdisciplinary Faculty Award, “Dr. Merrill enhances the learning experience by recognizing and acknowledging a variety of academic approaches. There is never a fear of academic parochialism when we are in a colloquium discussion; valid knowledge claims are appreciated and analyzed on their merit, not their provenance.” His involvement in graduate education is both in the classroom and via his direct mentoring of students in degree programs. The letter of nomination further states that “Dr. Merrill pays attention to the cultural and lived experiences of students, and the development of individualized academic focus and professional skills development.” Dr. Merrill’s work goes far beyond that of the classroom and serving as a mentor to doctoral students, having directed at least 10 dissertations. Additionally, he is a recognized scholar as evidenced by the many books and scholarly articles to his credit.
When Dr. Merrill learned of his award he said “I felt a sense of renewed appreciation for my doctoral students who had obviously recovered from the mentoring experience.” In an interview he remarked that he enjoys taking academic discourse and making it accessible to students. “I sometimes feel like Groucho Marx in ‘Horse Feathers’, that great 1930s satire on higher education…when I succeed at connecting the scholarly and instructional worlds, it’s both intellectually invigorating and a lot of fun.” In receiving this award, Dr. Merrill commented, “Winning this award reinforces my conviction that that best way to teach doctoral students – whether in seminar or through Microsoft Editing software – is what I like to call ‘Cold Turkey Socratic.’ Whether I am working with a historian, an economist, an educator, a political scientist, or a rhetorician, I seek to orchestrate a dialogue.” Merrill’s advice to graduate students who wish to enhance their success is to read beyond the assigned reading to dig deeper into their fields and related fields. Other sage advice that he shares include “…know your field, then plan your research and teaching agendas accordingly.” He stresses, though, that due to a rapidly changing world economy and wrenching job market, one should always be sure to have a Plan B.
Dr. Merrill joined the Department of History at UMKC after receiving his PhD from the University of Connecticut in 1987. He previously received a Master of Arts from the same institution and his bachelor’s degree from Providence College in Rhode Island. The School of Graduate Studies and the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student Council both congratulate Dr. Merrill on winning this award.