Burdin Professorship in Louisiana Studies

The Burdin Professorship is an at-large professorship administered by the Center for Louisiana Studies and awarded to any member of any department within the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to enhance campus and community dialogue on topics or issues in Louisiana studies. "Louisiana" should be broadly defined to include the historical territory of Louisiana. The Burdin Professor should organize and administer a public program on Louisiana studies to be called The Burdin Symposium and, if possible, supervise the publication proceedings of that event. The intent of the professorship is to enhance the University's leadership role in promoting the knowledge of Louisiana's historical and cultural heritage.

GUIDELINES

This professorship is awarded to a faculty member with a demonstrated interest and scholarly activity in any aspect of the Louisiana studies. It seeks to foster the knowledge of broad areas in Louisiana studies through active dialogue within and without the university. The J. J. Burdin and Helen B. Burdin Professorship is to be awarded to full-time scholars whose accomplishments contribute to the development of the University's leadership role in furthering the understanding of Louisiana's culture, society, and heritage. The award will serve to bring recognition to scholars, enhance the education of students working with them, and stimulate intellectual discourse on Louisiana studies. The major purposes of the professorship are:

1. To encourage a continuing dialogue between the community and the University on topics and issues in Louisiana studies; and

2. To encourage opportunities for outstanding faculty to investigate and disseminate knowledge on Louisiana's history and culture.

The award carries an annual stipend as a supplement to the faculty member's regular salary. It also provides support for a public program to be called the Burdin Symposium furthering the knowledge and understanding of Louisiana Studies. The tenure of the professorship is three years with the possibility of renewal. The Burdin Symposium should be developed in conjunction with the Center for Louisiana Studies and take place during the three-year tenure of the professorship with funding allocated to support it and to ensure its permanent academic record through the publication of the proceedings. Throughout the term of the award, the endowed professor must be a faculty member in any department of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette working on issues that further an understanding of Louisiana. The major commitment of the recipients will be to promote scholarly activities that will enhance the reputation of the university for leadership in the field of Louisiana studies. 

For more information about the Burdin professorhip, contact the Center for Louisiana Studies at cls@louisiana.edu.