Dalton State College has established the Keith & Lynn Whitworth Distinguished Chair in Classical Education in its School of Education to strengthen how it prepares future educators to teach. The position was made possible through the generosity of the Brown Whitworth Reynolds Foundation and was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in November.
“Dalton State is the leading producer of teachers in our region of the state, and the Keith & Lynn Whitworth Distinguished Chair in Classical Education will shape the future of education as we integrate this innovative model into teacher preparation,” John Fuchko, Dalton State president, said. “We are deeply grateful to the Whitworth family for their extraordinary commitment to Dalton State and to the future of education.”
Lynn Brown Whitworth attended then-Dalton Junior College and is the daughter of the late James and Sis Brown, community leaders and generous philanthropists who supported Dalton State College for more than 50 years. Continuing her family’s legacy, Whitworth has been a steadfast advocate for the college and served on the Dalton State Foundation Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2012.
Classical education is a fast-growing movement that emphasizes engagement with the foundational works of literature, philosophy and history; the development of critical thinking and character skills that support civic engagement; and a deep understanding of Western cultural heritage. The School of Education will also incorporate the “Finnish model” of education with its focus on nature-based learning and personalized learning plans, alongside dual-language immersion and the Science of Reading.
“We are creating an innovative model that equips future teachers to apply classical and alternative educational pedagogies to foster student success,” said Sharon Hixon, dean of the School of Education. “The endowed chair will allow us to recruit and hire an exceptional faculty member with expertise in this emerging discipline.”
Endowed chairs and professorships—the highest honor a college can bestow upon a faculty member—enable Dalton State to attract and retain outstanding faculty who drive growth in areas of strategic importance. This is the sixth endowed faculty position at Dalton State College.
David Elrod, vice president of institutional advancement, said the Whitworths’ gift will have a lasting impact on the college’s academic mission.
“The Whitworth family’s visionary philanthropy represents a transformational investment in Dalton State’s mission and education in our region for future generations,” Elrod said.
The classical education approach, along with dual-language immersion and the Finnish model of education, will be a key feature of the Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia, which plans to open in fall 2027. In collaboration with Dalton State, the Learning Academy will provide opportunities for the college’s education majors to gain classroom experience early in their college program.
