Nicole Kaplan has been awarded the Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professorship of the Liberal Arts. Named after Central College’s 18th president, who served 1970-90, the three-year endowed professorship recognizes a distinguished faculty member and provides support for teaching, research and scholarship.
To be named Weller Distinguished Professor, a term of three years, a faculty member must be an acknowledged competent professional, have attained tenure and be recognized among students and professors as one of Central’s outstanding teachers. They must also have an invitational approach to teaching that inspires in students an unusual level of intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. In addition, they must demonstrate excellence in performance and a sense of fulfillment in teaching courses that enroll students from a wide diversity of departments.
Kaplan, associate professor of French, has taught at Central since 2002. She directed Central’s Paris program until 2006, when she joined the modern languages faculty on campus. Kaplan is a previous recipient of Central’s Dr. John Wesselink Award for scholarly achievements that enhance classroom teaching and has served as an elected member of faculty welfare, personnel and policy committees.
Central College President Mark Putnam said Kaplan’s engaging teaching exemplifies the Weller Distinguished Professorship. “Nicole’s commitment to and advocacy for innovative teaching, academic excellence, global, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary courses is a true match to the purpose of the professorship,” Putnam said.
“I am so humbled and grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of this prestigious award,” Kaplan said, “knowing there are so many highly qualified and deserving colleagues whose distinguished contributions and outstanding accomplishments have challenged and shaped the intellectual development of our students and cultural life of the college.”
Kaplan, a passionate advocate of study abroad and global experiential learning, said she wants to use her professorship to create more learning opportunities that cross cultural boundaries. Part of this process involves a team-taught senior capstone called, Americans in Paris, that will be offered for the first time next spring.
Robert Franks, professor of computer science, was Central’s most recent Weller Distinguished Professor. Kaplan, the ninth recipient of the professorship, will be installed in September.
