Keen is director of the Masters of Liberal Studies Program and the former chairperson for the Department of Sociology from 1997 to 2002. He currently serves as a board member of the IU Institute for Advanced Studies, the IU South Bend Graduate Council and the Association of Graduate Liberal Programs.

He came to IU South Bend in 1986 as an adjunct assistant after he earned his master’s and doctorate in sociology from the University of Notre Dame. He rose through the department, first as a visiting assistant from 1987 to 1989, then to assistant professor from 1989 to 1995, and to associate professor from 1995 to 2002, and full professor in 2002.

He is a prolific author and researcher. Through his research, he has examined Central and Eastern Europe, surveillance of American sociologists and teaching methods.

Keen has been the recipient of the IU Trustees’ Teaching Award in 2001, the Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching Award for IU and the IU South Bend Distinguished Teaching Award, both in 1993; and the Teaching Excellence Recognition Award in 1997.

Off campus, he was the chair of the American Sociological Association’s Section on the History of Sociology from 2002 – 2003 and the coordinator of the Midwest Student Sociological Steering Committee from 1994 to 2003. He served as the Chancellor’s Fellow from 1998 to 1999.

Active in the community, he has been on the board of directors of Fine Arts, Inc., the founder and coordinator of The Avenue Group, a member of the Mishawaka Avenue Improvement Committee and several other neighborhood and city committees.

Past recipients of the Lundquist Fellowship include David K. Barton, professor of music; Lester Lamon, professor of history; and Tuck Langland, professor of art.

Guillaume said that Keen is an “excellent choice” for the Lundquist. “He is deeply committed to IU South Bend, embodies the qualities of the Lundquist Award which includes scholarship and service to the community. He is committed to the city. He is a scholar and a gentleman and a joy to be around.”

Keen said he is honored to be given the award. “Given the consistently high quality of the members of the faculty of IUSB, their demonstrated excellence in teaching, their extraordinary scholarly productivity, and their generous service to the university and community, it is a privilege and an honor to receive this award. It is also a bit intimidating because of the the outstanding series of Lundquist lectures or performances that each awardee has delivered over the years. I only hope I can live up to the lofty standards they have set.”

The Lundquist Lecture was instituted in 1984 and named after Eldon Lundquist, one of Elkhart’s best known natives. He wore many hats – public relations, advertising, hospital development director, sportscaster and legislator. He was a member of the Indiana General Assembly from 1961 to 1976, where he se

rved as the Senate Education Committee chairman for more than a decade.

In 1976, he was appointed assistant to the president of Indiana University with an office at IU South Bend. He served in that role until his death in 1977.

His friends established an endowment in his name to sponsor public lectures. In 1984, the Faculty Fellowship Program was established to support IU South Bend faculty members who demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in teaching, scholarship and research.