Faculty members who teach English, mathematics, history and visual arts were honored as superior educators by the UL Lafayette Foundation earlier this year. Two received the Distinguished Professor Award; the others earned the Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award.
Recipients are chosen by their peers, based on the recommendations of a faculty committee, explained Julie Bolton Falgout, the Foundation’s executive director. “I’m always so captivated by the faculty selections. Their accomplishments are impressive,” she said in a recent interview.
Charles E. Richard, a professor of English, and Dr. Aghalaya Vatsala, a professor of mathematics, were named distinguished professors.
John Hathorn, a professor of painting, and Dr. John Troutman, an assistant professor of history, received teaching awards. Hathorn also holds the 2008 Distinguished Professor Award.
The UL Lafayette Foundation began presenting the Distinguished Professor Award in 1965. It added the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1992. It was renamed in 2008 to honor former UL Lafayette President Dr. Ray P. Authement.
Each honoree receives a $5,000 stipend.
The Foundation has posted a video on its website that features this year’s winners, http://ullafayettefoundation.org.
Dr. Aghalaya Vatsala
Dr. Aghalaya Vatsala’s teaching philosophy sounds a lot simpler than the mathematical concepts — like nonlinear analysis and differential equations — that she teaches.
“Find a way to make math fun,” she said. “I always tell students, ‘Don’t hesitate to ask questions.’ That’s when new ideas come into the picture.”
The professor of mathematics, who joined the University in 1984, was chosen by her peers to receive the 2014 Distinguished Professor Award.
“Her abiding passion for mathematics has greatly influenced our faculty and students,” said Dr. Keng Deng, head of the Department of Mathematics, in a letter recommending her for the honor. He also described her as an outstanding researcher.
Vatsala was elected to the Russian Academy of Nonlinear Sciences in 1999 for her research of mathematician Aleksandr Lyapunov’s work.
Teaching and guiding students at all levels, from undergraduates to doctoral candidates, is her biggest accomplishment. “I enjoy working with them, motivating them, discussing research with them. When they graduate and establish themselves, that’s the gift I ask for,” she said.
John Hathorn
John Hathorn, a professor of visual arts, teaches an introductory painting course for sophomore visual arts majors. Students who are in the painting concentration have five more courses with him.
Those courses include senior seminar, two consecutive courses that prepare students for the transition into the professional world. Each student creates a body of work for the department’s annual Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition.
Hathorn also readies his students by requiring them to write well. “As professionals, they’ll have to be able to express themselves not only through their art, but also through the written word,” he said.
In a letter supporting Hathorn’s nomination for the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award, Gordon Brooks, dean of the College of the Arts, praised his dedication. “From the introductory seminar, through the organization of multidisciplinary critiques, to the final annual show at University Art Museum, John dedicates his patience and passion to the service of students and faculty,” Brooks wrote.
Hathorn earned the Distinguished Professor Award in 2008.
Dr. John Troutman
Dr. John Troutman has combined two passions, music and history, into an academic career. An associate professor of history, he received the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award.
He plays steel guitar as a hobby. It’s a hobby that’s landed him some cool gigs, performing with artists such as Dr. John, Elvis Costello, and Robert Plant. He contributed to an album by Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys that was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2012.
“As a musician, I realized that historians had largely overlooked the historical significance of music,” Troutman said.
Research about the role of music in conflicts between American Indians and the federal government at the turn of the 20th century led to his first book, Indian Blues. “The federal government wielded music as a weapon. In turn, music became a means of resistance for native people,” he explained.
Last year, Troutman and some graduate students created the Museum on the Move Program; it employs a modified 1954 Airstream trailer to house traveling history exhibits.
Charles Richard
Dr. Charles Richard draws on his experience to help teach real-life lessons in the classroom. Before joining the UL Lafayette faculty, he was a freelance writer and independent filmmaker.
Richard also used his own knowledge and skills to create the University’s Moving Image Arts Program, which prepares students for a variety of careers.
“At its essence, communicating through moving images is storytelling. If you ever hope to be a major contributor to the storytelling process, you need a solid education in liberal arts and the humanities. You need critical thinking skills, an awareness of other cultures, and the ability to tell a story,” he said.
The recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Professor Award continues to work as a filmmaker and producer. He’s producing and directing a feature-length film about Edward Couvillier, an 85-year-old Cajun boat builder.
Although it began as a straightforward documentary, it has evolved into a complex film about creativity and its practical application — the same elements Richard strives to pass on to his students.