Craig Filar, a seasoned faculty director for several Florida State University programs that serve academically high-achieving students, has been tapped for an expanded role as associate dean of the Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House (HSF).
In his new position, Filar will oversee the University Honors Program, Presidential Scholars Program and Office of National Fellowships (ONF), all housed in the centrally located building on Honors Way, facing Landis Green.
“Dr. Filar has demonstrated exceptional leadership for our students in various capacities for over 15 years, and we’re grateful he can bring that wealth of experience to this expanded role,” said Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies. “Our students will benefit from Dr. Filar’s established history of mentorship and his talent for building transformative student programming.”
Filar is currently the director of the Presidential Scholars Program, which is FSU’s premier undergraduate merit scholarship for those who show exceptional leadership skills and potential, and director of ONF, which helps students throughout the process of applying for national fellowships and grants. Filar served on the board of directors for the National Association of Fellowship Advisors, including as vice president from 2017-2019 and president from 2019-2021.
As associate dean, Filar will oversee the University Honors Program as well. He has previously served three times as interim Honors director.
“Our students will benefit from Dr. Filar’s established history of mentorship and his talent for building transformative student programming.”
– Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies.
O’Shea says that having one associate dean oversee all three programs brings cohesion to three related groups within HSF and will help academically motivated students connect more easily with the kinds of resources and opportunities that can propel them toward success. Other universities operate on a similar model.
Filar’s new role comes at a time of investment and expansion for all three programs. The Presidential Scholars Program boasts its largest incoming class yet, with 48 students, and the Honors Program grew to over 600 new students following unprecedented numbers of applications. To accommodate the larger class, Honors faculty were added, and all three programs have seen growth in their staff and other resources to meet the increased level of student involvement.
With a growing student population, new faculty members teaching innovative courses and more opportunities to engage with the community of scholars, this is an exciting time to be a high-achieving student at FSU, according to Filar.
“I’m thrilled to contribute to this dynamic phase of growth in HSF, as we aim to draw some of the state’s and country’s most intellectually curious and creative students to our campus,” Filar said. “We are here to meet the academic, professional and personal needs of an increasingly talented student body at FSU and help them recognize their potential as the leaders of tomorrow.”
For more information, visit hsf.fsu.edu and honors.fsu.edu.