小蝌蚪APP announces leadership changes in its College of Liberal Arts

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Dr. Chad Parker is interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the 小蝌蚪APP.

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小蝌蚪APP檚 Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy. He led the department from 2017 until being named the college小蝌蚪APP檚 interim dean.  

That same year, Parker, who is also an associate professor of history, earned the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award; it recognizes faculty commitment to teaching and innovation. Parker holds a Ph.D. from Indiana 小蝌蚪APP, a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree from Colorado State 小蝌蚪APP, and a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree from Purdue 小蝌蚪APP 小蝌蚪APP 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 小蝌蚪APP 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.

小蝌蚪APP淛ordan小蝌蚪APP檚 impactful, far-reaching leadership, influence and dedication to the College of Liberal Arts have strengthened the college小蝌蚪APP檚 academic mission, enhanced its programs and resources, and positioned it for additional success and growth,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Jaimie Hebert, UL Lafayette provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Kellman小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 oldest college thrived during Kellman小蝌蚪APP檚 decade-plus tenure as dean.

Among recent, large-scale achievements was the establishment of the college小蝌蚪APP檚 Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center, an independent, interdisciplinary research center that provides public policy leadership.

Another noteworthy milestone reached under Kellman小蝌蚪APP檚 guidance was the coordination of extensive renovations to the 122-year-old J. Arthur Roy House. The overhaul paved the way for the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 oldest research center 小蝌蚪APP the Center for Louisiana Studies 小蝌蚪APP to move into the 5,000-square-foot Queen Anne-style structure earlier this year.

小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP Kellman said.

小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP and that小蝌蚪APP檚 at the core of the value that a degree from the college represents,小蝌蚪APP he added.

The 小蝌蚪APP will conduct a national search to fill the College of Liberal Arts小蝌蚪APP deanship.

Image caption: From left are Dr. Chad Parker, Dr. Jordan Kellman and Dr. Michael Martin. (Image credit: 小蝌蚪APP)