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TWU’s Ron
French named 2007 Piper Professor
5/01/07
DENTON —
In recognition of his devotion to teaching and his impact
on his students and community, Dr. Ron French, Cornaro Professor
of Kinesiology, has been named a 2007 Piper Professor by the
Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.
The award, which
includes a $5,000 stipend, was created in 1958 to honor outstanding
teaching in Texas colleges and universities. The foundation
makes only 15 awards each year. Selection is made on the basis
of nominations submitted by each college or university in
Texas.
Awards were announced Tuesday, May 1.
“You have
to be nominated by the president of your university, and you
are competing against other faculty within our state,”
Dr. French said. “This makes the award very special.”
Dr. French is the
eighth TWU faculty member to be named a Piper Professor since
the award was established.
TWU Chancellor
and President Dr. Ann Stuart said, “Through his teaching
and scholarship, Ron French has positively influenced the
lives of disabled children throughout the world. He is the
embodiment of the Minnie Stevens Piper Award.”
Dr. French is one
of the most influential leaders in the field of adapted physical
education, both in the United States and internationally.
He has served on the national task force to develop and revise
standards and guidelines for the profession, and has received
more than $2.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department
of Education for professional preparation of special education
teachers and consultants for students with disabilities.
He earned his doctorate
in adapted physical education from UCLA in 1971 and has taught
at Texas Woman’s University since 1984. He has published
more than 12 books and book chapters in the field, and his
books are routinely used as texts for undergraduate and graduate
courses in the United States and in Korea. He also has published
more than 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals
at the national and international levels.
“Every day
that I go to work, either at the university or out in the
field, I am excited,” Dr. French said. “If I were
not being paid to teach, I would teach voluntarily.
“In my mind,
teaching must not only be intellectually stimulating to the
students; it must be intellectually stimulating to the teacher
as well. Part of my intellectual stimulation comes from the
awareness that I have made a difference in the lives and preparation
of teachers who do or will teach students with disabilities.”
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For Further
Information Contact:
Karen Garcia
Senior Copywriter
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: kgarcia@twu.edu |
