Transylvania University has named its latest Bingham Endowed Chairs in recognition of their outstanding impact on student learning.
Political science professor Michael Cairo and psychology professor Bethany Jurs were selected by an independent committee of educators from other colleges following a rigorous application and review process.
Each will receive a $25,000 annual award in addition to base salary and benefits as part of a $25 million, 15-year grant that will fund up to 12 chairs across the university.
This honor, which recognizes teaching excellence across disciplines, helps Transylvania continue to attract and retain exceptional faculty.
“Professors Michael Cairo and Bethany Jurs embody the innovative, enthusiastic and rigorous teaching that inspires students to develop independent thinking in a supportive classroom,” President Brien Lewis said. “I congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition as our newest Bingham Endowed Chairs.”
Previously named awardees include Paul Duffin, Peter Fosl, Qian Gao, Kurt Gohde, Frank Russell and James Wagner.
Since 1987, the Bingham Fund has invested more than $30 million to reward excellent teaching, support faculty development and advance student success through the Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence.
About the new Bingham Endowed Chairs
Michael Cairo, professor of political science and director of international affairs, has taught at Transylvania since 2010. Drawing on his scholarship in U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East, he challenges students to confront global complexity through rigorous analysis and Socratic dialogue. Members of the Bingham Selection Committee were impressed by his ability to help students confront our complex reality and to learn from it. They describe his courses as challenging in academically productive ways, with one saying he “never looked for a one-word answer.”
Cairo earned his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from SUNY College at Geneseo. A scholar of U.S. foreign policy and U.S.-Middle East relations, he has authored books including “American Presidents and Israeli Settlements since 1967” and “The Gulf: The Bush Presidencies and the Middle East.” He teaches courses such as Politics of the Middle East, International Politics, International Law and Human Rights.
Bethany Jurs, a professor of psychology and neuroscience and program director for psychology, joined Transylvania in 2013. The committee praised her active-learning approach, including a memorable shoe-removal experiment that sparked discussions of conformity, authority and the Milgram study — and her “Fun-NOVA” reframing of statistical concepts. Students highlight her evidence-based methods and passion for their success. One noted, “Dr. Jurs has a rare ability to envision what Transylvania can become and takes tangible steps to get it there.”
Jurs earned a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive science from Indiana University and a B.A. in psychology from Purdue University. She teaches courses including General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, employing active learning to make complex concepts immediate and personal.