College of the Arts Faculty honored by University as Eminent Faculty

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette recognized six Eminent Faculty during ceremonies on April 25.  Four of the six recipients are faculty for the College of the Arts. The UL Lafayette Foundation sponsors the annual awards. They are the highest recognition the University confers on faculty.

The College of the Arts Faculty receiving distinction this year are:

Distinguished Professor Award

Dr. Jeffrey George is an associate professor of guitar studies for the School of Music and Performing Arts. He is a prolific scholar whose research has earned international recognition. George maintains an active performing career in addition to his teaching; he has performed in rock, country, bluegrass, reggae and blues bands. He has also performed solo classical guitar concerts. UL graduates taught by George have distinguished themselves in a variety of ways. One former student recently toured with Grammy Award-winning musician Terrence Simien, for example. Another developed a classical guitar program for visually-impaired musicians.

Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award

Brian Kelly leads the printmaking program in the Department of Visual Arts. A professor of visual arts, he is coordinator of Marais Press. The press is a space where environmentally friendly, non-toxic printmaking techniques are combined with traditional methods. It has attracted more than 200 local and national guest printmakers. “Through this space, he has connected professional printmakers and artists from around the country and the world with his students giving them professional, collaborative artmaking experience they wouldn’t otherwise have,” wrote Gordon Brooks, dean of the College of the Arts. His prints have been featured in nearly 500 national and international exhibitions.

Kari Smith is an associate professor and graduate coordinator for the School of Architecture and Design. She is co-director of the Coastal Community Resilience Studio. The studio fosters transdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, faculty and students to address the complexities of restoration and preservation along the Louisiana coast. It brings together faculty and students from the School of Architecture and Design, the School of Geosciences, and the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Child and Family Studies. Research centers such as the University’s Institute of Coastal Ecology and Engineering and the UL Lafayette/NASA Lafayette Regional Application Center contribute research.“In her student led research and teaching she continuously opens up conversation to engage as many voices and expertise as possible,” Brooks wrote.

Leadership in Service Award

Jeffrey Lush is an associate professor of graphic design and co-coordinator for the graphic design concentration in the Department of Visual Arts.In collaboration with the Acadiana Center for the Arts, he has led undergraduate students who have volunteered for marketing projects with non-profit organizations, such as the Cité des Arts and the Creole Heritage Folklife Center.His students have also created outdoor signage, newsletters and other graphic materials for the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum on campus. Lush's research includes historical studies in modernist design practices during the Industrial Revolution and the effects of mass media upon a wide audience.