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In 1994, classics scholar Richard Garner, PhD, came to Adelphi from Yale University with a mission: to take Adelphi's small honors program and, as founding dean, turn it into a full-fledged Honors College.
It has been 30 years since Richard Garner was named Dean of Adelphi University’s Honors College and five years since Susan Dinan assumed the reins and began leading the college.
Under their leadership, a dynamic community committed to the life of the mind and an education of depth and breadth, where students learn to read, write and think across disciplines has grown. Fundamental to the Honors College is motto Sapere Aude, our commitment to dare to know. Please join us this year to read, reflect, and celebrate!
Launched in the fall of 1994, the Adelphi University Honors College is now celebrating three decades of excellence in education. As part of that celebration, we spoke with the founding dean, Richard Garner, PhD, and the current dean, Susan Dinan, PhD, about the College and how it has evolved over the years.
Celebrate 30 Years of Adelphi’s Honors College by reading 30 Texts in 2025!
In this compelling work, People of the Book, Brooks examines the history of the important Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in fifteenth-century Spain and the work of a modern rare book expert.
Read the New York Times review for more on this captivating book.
In this groundbreaking book, Kuhn explores the history of science and the nature of scientific progress. His ideas about research and the expectations we have for disciplinary change will challenge and expand our understanding of how science evolves.
Zhang is one for few social commentators who writes in English for an international audience. Her articles on China’s social, cultural, and political climate have been published widely, including in the New York Times and The Guardian.
This sharp and witty comedy unfolds in an Iranian classroom where adult English learners prepare for their proficiency exam. As they navigate a linguistic playground, their wildly different dreams, frustrations, and secrets come to light. Can they overcome the limits of language to discover what they truly want to say?
Read the New York Times review for more insight into this celebrated play.
This timeless Persian allegory takes readers on a mystical journey with a group of birds seeking enlightenment under the guidance of their leader, the hoopoe. Through poetic storytelling, it explores universal themes of self-discovery, spiritual growth, and the pursuit of truth.
Take this opportunity to engage with one of the most celebrated works of Sufi literature, now integral to our shared academic exploration of the human condition.
Hochschild poses a critical question: How do two-earner households manage wage work, kinwork, and housework? Are things truly equal? This influential book introduced the term “second shift” to describe the challenges faced by working women balancing careers and domestic responsibilities.
The Shahnameh, or The Book of Kings is the longest poem written by a single poet, tracing Persian collective memory from its mythic origins through the Arab Conquest of the 7th century. From Rostam’s heroics to the tragic love of Bijan and Manijeh, Persian-speaking people of all ages across the Middle East and South Asia can recite lines from it by heart to this day.
In this compelling work, Hamnet, O’Farrell examines the life and tragic death of Shakespeare’s son, exploring the profound impact of loss on a family. The novel weaves together themes of grief, love, and the bonds between parent and child.
In this compelling work, Moby Dick, Melville examines obsession, fate, and the human spirit through the tale of Captain Ahab’s relentless pursuit of the great white whale.
In this compelling work, Othello, Shakespeare examines themes of jealousy, betrayal, and race through the tragic story of Othello and his deceitful ensign, Iago.
In this inventive and satirical work, Machado de Assis presents the reflections of Brás Cubas, a recently deceased man, who recounts his life with wit, irony and philosophical insight.
Read the New York Times review for more on this groundbreaking book.
In Leaves of Grass, Whitman celebrates the human spirit, nature, and democracy through an innovative and expansive poetic style that reshaped American literature.
In this powerful oral history, Studs Terkel brings to life the voices of everyday Americans, offering a candid and heartfelt look at their work, struggles, and aspirations.
In tribute to 30 years of academic excellence, the Honors College is embracing 30 texts that reflect the depth and breadth of our intellectual community. Fifteen texts will enrich the spring semester, while the next 15 will follow in the fall, creating a year-long celebration of ideas and discussion.
Miss the stimulating debates of the Dean’s Circle? Reignite that spirit at events like our special Dean’s Circle conversation during Spirit Weekend on Saturday, October 4. Explore thought-provoking works, register and attend enriching cultural events, and engage with fellow Honors College alumni and students.
During the week of February 3-7 our seniors will present their research at the Honors College Thesis Works-in-Progress Colloquium, which will be held in the Innovation Center. Multiple sessions will be held each day affording every student the opportunity to share their research findings with the Honors community. Currently students are required to attend a few sessions, and we welcome everyone to join us.
