Claudia Kovach, a professor of English and French, has been named executive director of the Delta Epsilon Sigma National Catholic Scholastic Honor Society, a 75-year-old organization that comprises more than 30,000 active members and 77 Catholic colleges and universities. In conjunction with Kovach’s appointment, the society will move its national office from University of St. Thomas in Minnesota to Neumann University.

Kovach has served on Neumann’s faculty since 1980 and was dean of Arts and Sciences from 1999 to 2007. She has been involved in the national honor society for years, serving as president of the executive board, co-editor of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Journal (the official organ of the society), and in many leadership capacities for Neumann’s chapter of the honor society.

She holds a BA from Seton Hill University, and the M.A. and Ph.D. in comparative literature from Purdue University. She has published and presented internationally on the medieval Tristan legend and on writers such as Isabel Allende, Margery Kemp, Voltaire, Alice McDermott, and Amy Tan. In 1990-91, she spent a sabbatical leave at National Taiwan University in Taipei as visiting associate professor. 

Delta Epsilon Sigma (DES) supports student members through a number of avenues, including the J. Patrick Lee Prize for Service Award, which recognizes student engagement that best embodies “the ideals of Catholic social teaching.” The service of winners is highlighted in the Journal, and the award carries a $1,000 prize.

DES also supports undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships with more than $20,000 for outstanding juniors and seniors. In addition, the DES National Lecturers Program brings to campuses scholars who practice within or contribute to the Catholic intellectual tradition. Finally, the Delta Epsilon Sigma Journal publishes significant creative and critical writing, including the winning entries in its annual writing competition.