Louisiana Celebrating Success On The Field And In The Lab Saturday
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will celebrate its top-tier research status during Saturday's home football game as Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns attempt to keep the nation's longest winning streak alive against Eastern Michigan.
Several faculty and staff members will be recognized on field for exemplary work that contributed to Louisiana's Carnegie R1 status. The celebration will take place at the beginning the second quarter.
Earlier this year, Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education bestowed its loftiest designation on Louisiana . About 3% of the nation's colleges and universities have R1 status, which is synonymous with academic excellence, research, innovation and global impact.
Louisiana faculty and staff to be recognized Saturday include:
- Dr. Azmy Ackleh, professor of Mathematics and dean of the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences;
- Dr. Mark Zappi, professor of Chemical Engineering and executive director of the Energy Institute;
- Dr. Dianne Olivier, professor of Education Foundations and Leadership and assistant vice president Academic Affairs;
- Dr. Francois Villinger, professor of Biology and director of the New Iberia Research Center; and
- Mr. Robert Carmouche, director of Special Services, University College.
"Over the past decade, these individuals have contributed to enhancing the research culture of the university, to expanding our core competencies, and to the production of research outcomes that have resulted in our Carnegie R1 status. This tribute during the Sept. 10 game is not only for these five leaders but also for all the faculty, staff, and students whose research efforts have led us to this historic milestone," said Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, Louisiana's vice president of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development.
As dean of Louisiana's Ray P. Authement College of Sciences, Dr. Azmy Ackleh leads the most research-intensive academic colleges in attracting externally funded and prestigious research grants. In addition, he is a prolific researcher, in terms of external funding, post-doctoral researcher mentor, and is published in high-impact research publications.
As former dean, Dr. Mark Zappi transformed the culture of the College of Engineering from what was primarily a teaching college into a research powerhouse. In addition, he is an outstanding researcher and as the director of the Energy Institute, he is actively mentoring the next generation of researchers.
Dr. Dianne Olivier is among the University's best, productive, and most prominent dissertation advisors for doctoral students in the Education Foundations and Leadership program. Mentoring doctoral students is a key function of research universities and an important parameter in the Carnegie Classifications System.
As director of Louisiana's New Iberia Research Center, Dr. Francois Villinger leads a program that is the largest producer of external funded research grants. The center's work during the pandemic resulted in the groundbreaking Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, that has extended the research impact of the University to people across the globe.
While the transition of the University to Carnegie R1 status is significant, we remain strongly committed to serving the underserved and providing opportunities for the neediest of our students. Mr. Robert Carmouche, director of the Special Services, has done more over the past five decades than anyone to ensure the success of these students that has had multi-generational impacts on thousands of students.
The R1 recognition at Saturday's game will include a video presentation followed by a short recognition ceremony and ending with fireworks. Fans will be given R1 signs at the gates when they enter Cajun Field and will be asked to display their signs during the recognition on field.
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Re: Louisiana Celebrating Success On The Field And In The Lab Saturday
Originally Posted by BeauCajun
