School of Education Faculty Member Appointed Distinguished Professor

Balkin is the first faculty member in the School of Education to hold the title.

"The activities of the university advance because of our outstanding faculty, and it is wonderful to be able to recognize those who have truly distinguished themselves within their fields," said Noel Wilkin, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. "These are not simply great faculty; they are great faculty who have risen to the top of their disciplines.

"As a result, this is a tremendous honor for Dr. Balkin, and he joins an outstanding group of faculty who hold this honorific title."

The university established the Distinguished Professor title in 2018 to recognize faculty with sustained excellence in research, teaching and service. No more than 5% of eligible faculty may hold the title.

Balkin, a licensed professional counselor and nationally recognized scholar, joined the Ole Miss faculty in 2017. He began his counseling career in 1993 and has worked in higher education since 2003. His research focuses on adolescents in crisis, counseling outcomes, assessment practices and forgiveness.

"This award really represents a lifetime of work," Balkin said. "To be the first from the School of Education to receive this title is meaningful – not just for me, but for what it says about the kind of impact our faculty are making.

"I'm proud to represent our school and to help show what distinguished work in counseling and education can look like."

One of Balkin's most significant efforts launched a telemental health initiative that delivers free counseling services to youth in high-need areas across Mississippi. The Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment, or COPE, serves as both a training clinic and healthcare provider.

The initiative operates through the school's counselor education program and is supported by a $1.5 million grant.

Balkin has authored or co-authored more than 110 publications, including the book "Practicing Forgiveness: A Path Toward Healing," which presents a model to help individuals repair relationships when possible – or find healing and closure when reconciliation is not. The Forgiveness Reconciliation Inventory, a counseling measure he developed from his forgiveness model, has been adopted internationally.

He serves as editor-in-chief of the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling and is a past editor of the Journal of Counseling & Development, the flagship journal of the American Counseling Association, or ACA.

His recognitions include the ACES Legacy Award, the ACA Extended Research Award and the Patricia B. Elmore Outstanding Research Award for Measurement and Evaluation. From 2010 to 2019, he was ranked eighth among the most-published scholars across 22 counseling journals.

David Rock, the school's dean, praised Balkin's wide-ranging contributions.

"Dr. Balkin exemplifies the highest ideals of our mission," Rock said. "He is a national leader in counselor education, a passionate educator and a dedicated mentor to his students and colleagues. This recognition is both well-earned and well-deserved."

For Balkin, the honor is not only a career milestone but also a moment to reflect on the people and partnerships that have shaped his work.

"I've always believed that the best scholarship is the kind that reaches people," he said. "This work is not done in isolation. It's done with colleagues, with students, with communities.

"And I hope this award shines a light on what all of us in the School of Education are doing to make a difference."

Top: Chancellor Glenn Boyce (right) presents education professor Rick Balkin with an honorary medal signifying him as the university's newest Distinguished Professor at the year-end faculty meeting in Fulton Chapel. The title recognizes Balkin's sustained excellence in research, teaching and service. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services