Ray P. Authement College of Sciences Awards to Exemplary Faculty
You can find more details about these honorees and others on our Outstanding Faculty page.
Dr. James Albert (Professor of Biology) received a distinguished research award for his work in the field of evolutionary biology and biography. In his 12 years of service to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dr. Albert has distinguished himself in the areas of research, instruction and service. His grantsmanship has resulted in over two million dollars in funding over the course of his career. As a world expert on neotropical fishes and their evolution, Dr. Albert's research is highly collaborative and he has formed strong relationships with colleagues throughout North and South America. Dr. Albert has been recognized for his research contributions both within the University and beyond. Here, he has received a "Award for Research Excellence" in both 2014 and 2016. This year, he was one of 23 scientists from across the country recognized as a "STEM Research Exemplar" as part of Washington University's Research Exemplar Project. His colleagues have also honored Dr. Albert by naming two newly discovered species after him: an electric fish Brachyhypopomus alberti, and an armored catfish Hisonotus alberti.
Ms. Nona Istre (Master Instructor and Program Coordinator for Computer Science) received an outstanding teaching award from the College. Ms. Istre joined the Computer Science faculty in Fall 1999 as an Instructor. At that time she taught three courses and advised approximately 30 students. She began teaching a combination of Computer Literacy, Introductory Programming and Assembly Language Programming. Within a couple of years, her strength in teaching Introductory Programming, as well as her organizational skills, led to her becoming the Course Coordinator for CMPS 150. She has modified the course, changing languages and presentation of materials, several times over the last decade. As students in this course will tell you, teaching such a course is challenging and ever-changing. Another part of Ms. Istre's contribution to education has been to high school teachers. For several summers, she has offered summer workshops to high school teachers allowing them to learn programming skills to bring to their classrooms, while earning continuing education credits. She has taught these workshops in C++, Python and Turtle Graphics. Ms. Istre estimates she has taught over 5,000 students in her 18+ years at UL Lafayette, and most of them still remember her when they see her out and about in Lafayette. As they have told her, Computer Science at UL Lafayette begins and ends with Ms. Nona.