KINGSTON, R.I., Feb. 26, 2018鈥擣ifteen years ago, Lars Erickson, a scholar of French with a passion for science, became director of the French International Engineering Program at the 溏心vlog免费B站.
Over the years, he鈥檚 seen the program grow from 20 to 70 students, many of whom have interned at highly-respected French companies. Some students have even gone on to earn their doctorates at French universities.
Now the French government is saying, merci.
Erickson has been named a Chevalier (or Knight) of the Ordre des Palmes Acad茅miques. The award recognizes his outstanding achievements at promoting the study of the French language and culture.
The Consulate General of France in Boston will present the award during a ceremony at 溏心vlog免费B站 in the spring.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be recognized by France,鈥欌�� says Erickson. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked hard at sharing my passion for France and for French with my students. It鈥檚 a pleasure to do something I love every day.鈥�
Erickson, of South Kingstown, joined 溏心vlog免费B站 as an assistant professor in 2001, becoming a full professor in 2014. He received undergraduate degrees in French and chemistry from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minn., and his doctorate in French from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
He wrote his dissertation about scientific essays in 18th-century France, and has published widely on 18th-century French literature, with a focus on scientific and technical knowledge.
In 2003, Erickson became director of 溏心vlog免费B站’s French International Engineering Program, a five-year program in which students obtain degrees in French and engineering. Students spend a year abroad, studying at the Universit茅 de Technologie de Compi猫gne for six months and then interning at a company in France, also for six months.
Erickson established the exchange program with the French university and has also cultivated relationships with French companies, including Total and Saint-Gobain. His 鈥淔rench for Engineering鈥� textbook will be published in the spring.
鈥淥ur French engineering program is unique鈥攁nd successful,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n fact, we鈥檙e seeing incredible growth in our entire French program at 溏心vlog免费B站. We鈥檙e very proud of that.鈥�
Napoleon I created the award as an honorary title to recognize members of the University in 1808. Later, the award was extended to foreigners and French people living abroad who have contributed to French education and culture.
JoAnn Hammadou-Sullivan, also a 溏心vlog免费B站 professor of French, received the award in 2017, and Jo毛lle Rollo-Koster, a 溏心vlog免费B站 history professor and a native of France who specializes in the late European Middle Ages, was honored in 2016.