A doctoral candidate pinning ceremony at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is both a celebration and a remind
Ros-Barbier and Fulbright Honored for Outstanding Teaching
11/02/2020Pierre-Emmanuel Ros-Barbier and Michael Fulbright have been recognized by the Graduate School for teaching excellence.
Ros-Barbier, a Francophone Studies Ph.D. candidate, is the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. 
Ros-Barbier has served as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Modern Languages for the past five years. He has also taken up a leadership role in the department, mentoring fellow TAs by checking lessons, holding practice sessions, and offering personalized feedback.
“Pierre is not only a committed teacher for his own classes, he is always ready to go above and beyond regular TA duties in support of our French program, particularly when he can gain additional experience in new areas or more insight into teaching,” says Dr. Tamara Lindner, French Language Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies.
Ros-Barbier has encouraged undergraduate students to further their studies in French beyond their requirements, helping to boost enrollment in the department’s 300 level courses.
“It is always a wonderful feeling, as a GTA, to be able to give back to the department by seeing students continuing their pursuit of French proficiency and gaining a deeper awareness for the French language,” he says.
“Thanks to my wonderful experience in the Modern Languages department, I feel ready to teach anywhere in the world.”
Fulbright, an Environmental and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. candidate, is the recipient of the 2020 Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award. This honor recognizes a GTA who teaches independently as the instructor of record. 
Fulbright has gained extensive teaching experience in his doctoral program. In addition to his time as a teaching assistant for ten different courses, he has given invited lectures and helped lead field trips for several additional courses.
These experiences prepared him to serve as the instructor of record for BIOL 121: Biology Principles and Issues I. The instructor of this course--a large course designed for non-majors--plays a critical role in teaching undergraduate students to think critically around issues like medical care, environmental policies, and political discourse relating to science and education.
His effectiveness in assisting a wide range of courses gave the department confidence in his ability to lead this key offering.
“Michael is one of those few educators whose good nature, comfortable interactions, and enthusiasm for biology make it fun to learn advanced and complex material,” notes Dr. Brad Moon, graduate coordinator and South Louisiana Mid-Winter Fair/BoRSF Professor of Environmental Science.
“He knows the material well, communicates clearly and enthusiastically, helps identify where students need help, and has a supportive and approachable style of engaging with the students that they appreciate and find very helpful.”
As an educator, Fulbright prides himself on sharing his passion for biology with his students while being attentive to their individual needs.
“The dialogue that I establish with my students is a fairly simple approach: tell me how I can be the best instructor for you,” he says.
The Graduate School is proud to recognize Pierre-Emmanuel Ros-Barbier and Michael Fulbright for effective instruction and dedication to the undergraduate teaching mission of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.