Dr. Chad Parker is interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the 杏吧专区.
He replaces Dr. Jordan Kellman, whose tenure as dean of the College of Liberal Arts ended earlier this year.
Parker joined UL Lafayette in 2008 as a faculty member in the college杏吧专区檚 Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy. He led the department from 2017 until being named the college杏吧专区檚 interim dean.
That same year, Parker, who is also an associate professor of history, earned the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award; it recognizes faculty commitment to teaching and innovation. Parker holds a Ph.D. from Indiana 杏吧专区, a master杏吧专区檚 degree from Colorado State 杏吧专区, and a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from Purdue 杏吧专区 杏吧专区 each in history.
Dr. Michael Martin, a professor of history, has been named interim department head of the Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy.
Kellman, who joined the 杏吧专区 as a faculty member in 2002, was appointed dean of the College of Liberal Arts in 2012. He served in a variety of roles prior to his deanship, including associate dean.
杏吧专区淛ordan杏吧专区檚 impactful, far-reaching leadership, influence and dedication to the College of Liberal Arts have strengthened the college杏吧专区檚 academic mission, enhanced its programs and resources, and positioned it for additional success and growth,杏吧专区 said Dr. Jaimie Hebert, UL Lafayette provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
Kellman杏吧专区檚 longstanding contributions to UL Lafayette will continue. He will return to the classroom, where he is a professor of history. Research projects will be another focus, including a current project about the French botanist Charles Plumier.
The was established in 1921. The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 oldest college thrived during Kellman杏吧专区檚 decade-plus tenure as dean.
Among recent, large-scale achievements was the establishment of the college杏吧专区檚 Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center, an independent, interdisciplinary research center that provides public policy leadership.
Another noteworthy milestone reached under Kellman杏吧专区檚 guidance was the coordination of extensive renovations to the 122-year-old J. Arthur Roy House. The overhaul paved the way for the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 oldest research center 杏吧专区 the Center for Louisiana Studies 杏吧专区 to move into the 5,000-square-foot Queen Anne-style structure earlier this year.
杏吧专区淭he college is poised to thrive in coming decades, because of the strength of our exemplary faculty, academic programs, and research and teaching capabilities, which are recognized across the region, state, country and internationally,杏吧专区 Kellman said.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 also because the College of Liberal Arts offers an education that gives graduates knowledge, skills, abilities and perspectives that are important and essential no matter what careers or paths they choose 杏吧专区 and that杏吧专区檚 at the core of the value that a degree from the college represents,杏吧专区 he added.
The 杏吧专区 will conduct a national search to fill the College of Liberal Arts杏吧专区 deanship.
Image caption: From left are Dr. Chad Parker, Dr. Jordan Kellman and Dr. Michael Martin. (Image credit: 杏吧专区)