MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (October 24, 2019) — Monmouth College computer-science professor Logan Mayfield has been named the College's first Commander GE Boone Endowed Professor in the Computational Sciences.
Established earlier this year by a gift from Monmouth graduate Mark Kopinski ('79) and his wife, Deborah, the Commander GE Boone Endowed Professorship in the Computational Sciences supports the work of a faculty member in mathematics, computer-science, data-science, and statistics.
Mayfield has been a member of the liberal-arts college's faculty since 2007 and is chair of its Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. He holds a PhD in computer-science and engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
"It's an incredible honor to be tapped for this position," said Mayfield. "It's especially exciting to be the first person to hold this endowed professorship."
Mayfield said the professorship will benefit Monmouth students in several ways.
"One of the best aspects about this endowed professorship is that it will provide funds that I can use to start new work and research with students," said Mayfield said. "It will let me engage students in dedicated research by creating a short-term program either over the summer or during our Scots Term. That will help students dig deeper into an area of study and prepare for graduate school. The endowment will also provide funds that will allow us to pay students to work on special research projects."
The Boone Endowed Professorship in the Computational Sciences honors the life of US Navy Commander and former Monmouth faculty member Gilbert E Boone. Trained as an architect, Boone was a member of the Armed Forces during World War II and the Korean War. His career culminated at the beginnings of the Cold War, when he helped train Japanese self-defense personnel in the methods of intelligence-gathering.
During his work in Japan, Boone and his wife, Katharine Phelps Boone ('30), acquired a museum-quality collection of historical East-Asian artifacts. After they returned to Katharine's native Monmouth in 1960, they developed a teaching curriculum for the College's East-Asian Studies program.
The Boones' extensive collection of Japanese art and artifacts of more than 3,500 pieces from the ninth through the 20th centuries is now housed as the Boone Oriental Library and Fine Arts Collection at the Field Museum in Chicago.
Founded in 1853, Monmouth College is a nationally ranked liberal arts college. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the birthplace of the women's fraternity movement, the college offers 38 majors, 42 minors, 17 pre-professional tracks, and two innovative Triads in Global Food Security and Global Public Health.
