RANDALL BLACK, Student Life Dean of the Commonwealth Honors Academy and professor of music, begins his twenty sixth year of teaching voice at Murray State University. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Illinois University (Music Department's Distinguished Alumnus Award, '96-'97) and his Master and Doctor of Music degrees from Indiana University. As a professional singer, he has appeared in the United States and Europe including performances with: Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony, St. Martin-in-the-Field Church in London, the Santa Fe Opera, and as a soloist in Carnegie Hall.

Dr. Black has served on the national board (Secretary/Treasurer) for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) as well as the NATS Foundation Board, and as regional governor for the National Opera Association. He taught for twelve years as a faculty member of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, and was recently recognized with Teaching Awards from the Music Department (Charles and Marlene Johnson Outstanding Music Faculty Award) and Murray State University (Regents Award). He and his wife, Kim, also a music teacher, have two children.

WARREN EDMINSTER, Academic Dean, is a Professor of English and Philosophy and the Director of the MSU Honors Program. Warren has a Ph.D. in Medieval Language and Literature from Baylor University and teaches Honors Composition, Honors Seminars in Literature and Philosophy, Medieval Literature, Chaucer, Tolkien, History of the English Language, and other assorted literature courses. He founded the annual Murray Shakespeare Festival and is the organizer/director of The Towneley Players, an academic theatre group that performs and records medieval theatre for The Chaucer Studio. Along with a number of academic articles, Warren is the author of The Preaching Fox: Festive Subversion in the Plays of the Wakefield Master (Routledge, 2005).

LORI ROGERS is the administrative assistant for the Murray State Honors Program and the primary contact for prospective CHA students. Having served in this position for 23 years, Lori enjoys building relationships with both university Honors students and the CHA students. She was recognized in 2011 by the MSU Student Government Association for her commitment to students and their success with the Jim Baurer Staff Service Award given annually to one exemplary staff member. Her favorite part of CHA is watching the students build friendships within the CHA community.

She studied history at MSU and family history through distance learning courses from Brigham Young University and continues to pursue a BIS degree in those areas. Lori’s interests include American history, genealogy, and cooking. She resides in Calloway County with her husband, Mark, and has a daughter, Brittiany, a 2006 MSU graduate.