Daniel Hocutt, R'92, G'98, Adjunct Professor
Daniel L. Hocutt, R’92, G’98, adjunct professor of liberal arts in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, was named the 2017 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award recipient during SPCS Night, the school’s annual awards and recognition ceremony. He delivered brief remarks to the graduates at the School’s Commencement Exercises on May 6, 2017.
Hocutt generally teaches English composition classes, ENGL 201U and ENGL 202U, Critical Writing and Research I & II, in the School. He is well acquainted with the University of Richmond, having earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English at Richmond.
Hocutt also works at the University, serving on the SPCS marketing team as the School’s web manager. He has honed his craft by writing news items, web features, web copy, social media posts, and internal proposals and reports on marketing results. He’s pursuing a doctoral degree in English at Old Dominion University, where he studies the rhetorical persuasion of algorithms. These are experiences he brings to the classroom: Practical engagement in the world of business, professional, technical, and academic writing.
As recipient of the Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty award, Hocutt joins a growing list of adjunct professors selected by the School’s students to receive the award. This award is the only adjunct faculty award conferred by SPCS. Students nominate eligible adjunct professors (those who have taught in the previous summer, fall, and/or spring terms) and write a brief statement in support of their nominee. The award recipient is selected from among those nominated by the full-time faculty members of the School.
Recipients of the Itzkowitz Family award are given an opportunity to address graduating students at SPCS Commencement Exercises. During his address, Hocutt identify three themes that have defined his personal, professional, and academic experience to date: faith, education, and the University of Richmond.
After sharing his personal odyssey of transitions, adjustments, and challenges — many significant household moves, a spouse recovering from cancer, and overseas adoptions among them — Hocutt reflected that “a life of many transitions requires something to hold onto.” For him, faith has been one of those things he’s held onto.
About education, Hocutt shared an observation about his current experience: “While I have taught and continue to teach, and while I work as a web manager on the SPCS marketing team, I am proudest to claim that I have remained a lifelong student, continually learning to become the person I am to be.” Lifelong education remains a bedrock of his experience — he noted that he’s been associated with a school or educational institution for 41 years to date — and he continues to learn as a doctoral student at Old Dominion University.
About the University of Richmond, after reflecting on several ways he’s remained connected to alma mater, Hocutt simply declared, “Richmond has treated me well. Spiders have become part of my blood.”
Hocutt closed his remarks with an encouragement to remain engaged and connected to Richmond.
“These three strands have intertwined to make me, in large part, who I am — an educated, continually becoming, Spider of faith. To you graduating students, and especially to those whom I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in English classes — never lose faith; value, even treasure, your education; and above all, remain engaged Spiders. These three bedrocks of my experience have served me well, and I commend them to you.”
In earning the Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award, Hocutt received a University chair emblazoned with a brass plaque naming him the 2017 award recipient.