Jim Pickens, a former Elon University professor, died today. Pickens worked as a professor of psychology for more than two decades at Elon before retiring in 2007.
"He, with a couple of other people, served as a conscious for the university in some significant ways," said Jeffery Pugh, professor of religious studies at Elon University.
Pugh associates the Students for Peace and Justice with the legacy of his friend, he said.
Pickens served as advisor to the organization throughout his time at Elon, according to an article published on E-Net. He motivated the creation of the Non-violence Studies minor and traveled to Nicaragua and Guatemala as part of Witness for Peace trips.
"He was always putting before use issues like Nicaragua or the situation in Honduras or what the School of the Americas was up to in Fort Benning and other kinds of peace and justice issues," Pugh said. "But it wasn't that he just spoke about those things; he actually did things."
While Pickens challenged international issues, he was also concerned with more local demonstrations of injustice. He volunteered at a local homeless shelter and would bring meals to the residents, even on nights he did not volunteer at the shelter, Pugh said.
Pickens also worked with the Boy Scouts and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and coached youth soccer teams, according to the E-Net article. He also led Alamance Peacemakers and volunteered with the Dispute Settlement Center, the article reported.
"He would put his life and ideals and faith into practice," Pugh said.
Elon University awarded Pickens the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. The award designates a commitment to education and citizenship, the goals of Project Pericles.
"He was a real force in the institution," Pugh said. "He was loved by many, and he will be missed."
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