The Delaware State University Board of Trustees has granted faculty emeritus status to Dr. Donald Parks, retired DSU professor of art.

The Board unanimously approved the naming of Dr. Parks as professor emeritus during its Jan. 12 regular board meeting.

Dr. Parks was a professor of art who began his tenure at DSU (then-Delaware State College) in 1981 after stints as several other schools and art institutions. He achieved the rank of full professor in 1994. During his tenure, he service on numerous committees and work groups. He retired from the University 2010.

Dr. Parks was the founding executive director of the DSU Arts Center/Gallery, beginning with its establishment in 1990 to 2008. He served as the associate dean of the DSU College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, and was the director of the University Cultural Programming from 1997 to 2008.

When DSU and Wesley College entered into a consortium agreement with the Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dr. Park became the director of development and programming for the Schwartz.

In connection with DSU outreach, Dr. Parks served as the regional director of the regional director of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Program, on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, as director of the Congressional Art Awards Program for Delaware, 

In 2004, Dr. Parks was honored with the Governor’s Award for the Arts in Delaware. He was awarded Art Educator of the Year awards for Delaware in 1992 and 1995; the DSU Excellence in Service Award in 1993, 1994 and 2004; DSU Excellence in Community Service Award in 2004; and the Presidential Medal of Honor Award for Excellence in Service.

Dr. Parks has an A.S. in Art from Corning Community College, N.Y.; a B.A. in Art History from Oneonta State University, N.Y.; an M.S. in Art Education from Elmira College, N.Y.; and Ed.D in Art and Art Education from Syracuse University, N.Y.