September 6, 2002

Loyola pays tribute to long-time faculty

University President Bernard Knoth, S.J., recognized eight faculty members for 25 years of outstanding teaching. At his August 19 convocation, Knoth honored Jesse Barfield, Ph.D., professor of accounting in the College of Business Administration; John Biguenet, M.F.A., professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences; John Brockhoeft, Ph.D., associate professor of legal studies in the College of Business Administration; William M. Grote, M.F.A., professor in the Department of Visual Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences; Cassandra Mabe, Ph.D., associate professor of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature in the College of Arts and Sciences; David Moore, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences; John Murphy, Ph.D., professor of piano in the College of Music; and David Swanzy, Ph.D., professor and dean emeritus in the College of Music.

These faculty arrived on campus in 1977. For their collective 200 years of service, each educator received a silver bowl and the appreciation of their colleagues and the administration.

Barfield is a certified public accountant and has co-written two textbooks. He has taught Managerial Accounting, Accounting Principles, Global Tools for Managerial Accounting, and Quality Assessment for Managers. He received a doctorate in 1971 from the Louisiana State University, a master's degree in 1962 from Florida State University, and a bachelor's degree of science from Florida State University.

Biguenet, Robert Hunter Distinguished Professor of English, was honored with the Dux Academicus Award in 1998 for outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service. His short story "Rose" won the O' Henry Award. His books The Craft of Translation and Theories of Translation, co-edited with Rainer Schulte, were published by the University of Chicago Press. Biguenet edited over 50 issues of The New Orleans Review, an international journal of film, art, and literature. His work has received a Harper's Magazine Writing Award among other distinctions, and his stories have been cited in The Pushcart Prizes, The Best American Short Stories 1997, and The Best American Short Stories 1998.

He has been elected to a second term as president of the American Literary Translators Association. Biguent recently had his first novel, Oyster, published this year. Two years ago his collection of short stories, The Torturer's Apprentice, was published to enthusiastic local and national applause.

After obtaining a juris doctor in 1970 from LSU, Brockhoeft worked in general practice as well as for the Louisiana Legislative Council, New Orleans Public Service, Inc., and the Mid Louisiana Gas Company. He has taught Law for Public Administrators, Consumer Protection Law, Business Law, and Legal Environment of Business. He has had several papers published including "The Legal Foundations of a Retail Transaction: Contract Law and the Uniform Commercial Code," published in the summer 2000 issue of Marketing Education Review; "Hyper Study Guide: Creating A Computerized, Interactive Student Study Guide," published in the spring, 1998 issue of The Journal of Private Enterprise; and "AIDS in the Workplace: Legal Limitations on Employer Actions," published in the American Business Law Journal, summer 1988.

Grote has extensive experience in photography, sculpture, and printmaking. In 1993, he held a Fulbright award that allowed him to work in the United Kingdom while teaching at the University of Plymouth. He has exhibited widely over the United States and Europe including France, Romania, Switzerland, and the UK. Throughout his career, he has received numerous grants and offers to work and lecture. Additionally, he served as chair of the visual arts department for many years. He received a master's of fine arts degree from Washington University and a bachelor's of fine arts degree from the School of Dayton Art Institute in Ohio.

Mabe's area of specialization and research is 18th-century French literature. She has presented papers and published articles on Rousseau and Voltaire. She teaches courses on the enlightenment and pre-romanticism, Rousseau, culture and civilization surveys, grammar and composition, and lower-level French. Mabe directs internships with the French Consulate in New Orleans and is the sponsor of the Loyola chapter of Pi Delta Phi (French Honor Society). Her undergraduate background is in French and Spanish with a concentration in foreign language education. She obtained a doctorate in French literature from Tulane University in 1977, a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1973, and a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University in 1969.

Moore received his undergraduate degree at Loyola, joined the Peace Corps (spending two years in Ethiopia), taught two years in high school, and then went to the University of Maryland to complete a master's degree and a doctorate in American studies. His areas of expertise are American culture and intellectual history in the late 19th and the 20th centuries, American popular culture, and Louisiana history. Recently, most of his research and writing has been on aspects of Louisiana and New Orleans cultural and social history. He has been the department chair since 1989. In 1998, Moore won the College of Arts and Sciences "Excellence in Teaching" award.

An active recitalist, Murphy has performed in many of the United States' most distinguished musical centers. He was a student of Ruth Slenczynska, Bela Siki, and Gyorgy Sandor. Murphy received a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in music from the University of Washington, and a bachelor's degree in music from Southern Illinois University.

Swanzy is dean emeritus having served 20 years as dean of the College of Music. He also served 13 years at Edinboro State College, chair of fine arts at Glenville State College, and coordinator of graduate music education at Southern Methodist University. He is an active guest clinician and researcher with numerous publications. He received a doctorate and a master's degree in music from Michigan State University, and a bachelor's degree from Centenary College.

The University Faculty Senate awards

Also at the convocation, the University Faculty Senate honored four of its colleagues with prestigious awards. Faculty Senate Chair Mary Blue, Ph.D., associate professor of communications, presented awards in four categories: teaching, advising, research, and community service. Recipients were nominated by faculty members, staff, or students, and were selected on the their superior performances in the particular area and the strength of the nomination letters. Jasjit Walia, Ph.D., a 36-year veteran, received the teaching award, Kim Ernst, Ph.D., received the advising award, Frank Jordan, Ph.D., received the research award, and William Quigley, J.D., received the community service award.

Walia, a professor of chemistry, joined the Loyola faculty in 1966. He is a native of India and former president of the Sikh Society of South, Inc. In 1982, Walia was honored by Loyola as the recipient of the Dux Academicus Award given to an outstanding faculty member. In nominating Walia for this recent honor, a former student wrote, "I found quality teachers in varied disciplines from the humanities to business to the sciences. But, among all of the educators I encountered, none exemplifies excellence in the role of teacher, as does Dr. Walia. I believe that Dr. Walia adheres to the philosophy that teaching is truly a collaboration between the teacher and the student, and he does his best to foster such a collaboration."

On receiving the award, Walia offered these poetic words: "What I see invariably is that every student is decorated with an invisible sign hanging from its neck saying, 'Make me learn. Make me feel important. Help me grow intellectually, mentally, spiritually, and socially.' I believe growth in all these areas for our students here at Loyola ought to be a pleasant and rewarding experience. The way I help my students accomplish this objective is by inculcating in them a spirit of keen analytical reasoning power, so that each student will have the ability and confidence to make right choices, and right decisions." Walia earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California, and master's and bachelor's degrees from Punjab University in India.

Ernst joined the psychology department in 1996. Over the past six years, she has advised more than 250 students, counseling on professional development, continuing education, and other life choices. "Receiving the University Senate Advising Award is a tremendous honor," she said. "It also is a truly unique distinction because my role as an adviser is more than making certain that students are taking the prescribed courses in pursuit of their educational goals. Advising, in the Jesuit tradition, is an opportunity to educate the whole person. This is a hallmark of a Jesuit education and one that sets our university apart from other institutions. Having my peers recognize me in this way speaks to the strength of Loyola's mission and ideals." Ernst earned a doctorate from the University of New Orleans, and master's and bachelor's degrees from Southeastern University.

As if the award were not enough, Jordan is on sabbatical this year conducting research. He is studying endangered species in the Florida Panhandle. An assistant professor of biological sciences, Jordan joined the faculty in 1997. In his short tenure, he has conducted 18 research projects and has been awarded scores of research grants. His scholarship grows with at least two publications a year. Jordan received a doctorate from the University of Florida, and master's and bachelor's degrees from Florida State University.

What led Bill Quigley to become an attorney a sense of justice and fair treatmentare definitely the reasons many have chosen to practice law. Yet, more than 20 years later, Quigley is still driven by his burning desire for just and equitable legal treatment. He has built a career on being the voice for the voiceless and a champion of human rights. For his efforts, he has received the admiration and adulation of numerous groups and organizations in New Orleans and across the country. As a nominee wrote, "Bill continues to fight the 'good fight.'"

He graduated from Loyola School of Law in 1977 and joined the faculty in 1990. Today, Quigley is director of the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center and the Public Law Clinic. In receiving the lastest in a litany of awards, Quigley said, "I thank the Jesuits for infusing the spirit of social justice into our community. I thank all of you for your work on behalf of charity and justice. I thank the (Loyola) community for allowing us to work with them. For we do not really work for them, but we learn with them as we contribute and they contribute to our education too." Quigley received a bachelor's degree in American literature in 1971 from Purdue University.