{"articleDetail":{"publishDateDisplay":"October 10, 2024","summary":"The Geneva College community is sad to hear of the passing of Professor Emeritus Harry Farra on September 24, 2024.","image":"site://geneva.edu/news/_assets/harry-farra-hero.jpg","tagItems":"[]","articleText":"The Geneva College community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Harry Farra on September 24, 2024.  \n\nFarra, 1978\n\nFarra served in many roles during the 41 years he was at Geneva College but may be best known as chair of the communication department.   Notably, Harry served the College in expanding the communication department, including establishing the theater program, developing campus broadcasting stations, supporting the visual communications programs, and facilitating the creation of the communication disorders program. In 1988, he served as the establishing faculty member of what was then known as the Degree Completion Program (now Online Degree Program). \n\nFarra with his fellow Speech Department Faculty, 1981\n\nFarra received a bachelor'apos;s in communication from Northwestern College, a Master'apos;s of Divinity from Bethel Theological Seminary, and a master'apos;s in communication from the University of Minnesota. He studied for his doctorate in theater at the University of Pittsburgh and received his PhD in rhetoric and communication from Pennsylvania State University.  Beyond his rigorous academic training and service, Farra regularly served as a visiting pastor, published four books, regularly contributed to news sources, and worked with his wife, Vonnie, in Haiti to provide educational opportunities for children. This quote from Barry Davis ’75 best communicates the tremendous impact that Farra had on many of his students: \n\"quot;When I think about Geneva, the professors that flood back into my mind are numerous and varied, but their impact on my life is gigantic. Dr. Harry Farra was without a doubt the one professor that made me see the beauty in the spoken word, the power that the words could hold, and how they could be used to bring glory to God. … The faith I witnessed in his daily walk was and remains a challenge to me every day of my life.\"quot;\n\nHarry Farra’s full obituary can be found at www.ellwoodcityledger.com/obituaries/psom0958862","author":null,"publishDate":"2024-10-10","type":"News Release","title":"Remembering Harry Farra: Professor Emeritus","imageDesc":"","url":"/article/geneva-college-farra-tribute","blogCategories":"","id":"7696f285ac0a24046d60b86fa68ae844","detailUrl":"/news/2024/10/geneva-college-farra-tribute.json","sourcePath":null,"slug":"geneva-college-farra-tribute"}}