THIBODAUX – Dr. Carroll Falcon and Dr. David Middleton, both retirees of Nicholls State University, were awarded the titles of provost and vice president for academic affairs emeritus and professor emeritus, respectively, at the first faculty meeting of the spring 2011 semester, conducted on campus Thursday, Jan. 13.
The emeritus title recognizes exceptional dedication, outstanding accomplishments, professional contributions and years of service to the university.
- Falcon
Pictured from left are Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, university president; Dr. Laynie Barrilleaux, vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Carrol Falcon, provost and vice president for academic affairs emeritus; and Dr. Robert “Bob” Falgout, retired professor in the Nicholls Department of Agriculture and director of the annual Raw Cane Sugar Manufacturers’ Institute and the annual Cane Sugar Refiners’ Institute at Nicholls. Falgout introduced Falcon prior to the emeritus award presentation.
A 43-year veteran of higher education with more than 31 years of service at Nicholls, Falcon retired in June 2010. He served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Nicholls since July 2004.
A native of Rayne, La., Falcon earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He then advanced to the University of Kentucky where he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees, also in animal science.
Falcon joined the Nicholls faculty in August 1967 as a professor of animal science. He was soon promoted to department head and finally to dean of the College of Life Sciences and Technology, a position he held for 15 years.
In 1993, Falcon temporarily left Nicholls to accept a position with the University of Louisiana System as senior vice president and chief academic officer. For three years of his 11-year stint with the system office, Falcon was acting system president and board secretary. He returned to Nicholls in 2004.
A member of numerous civic, school and social organizations, Falcon served on the board of directors of the Thibodaux Rotary Club, the Lafourche Parish Fair Association and Leadership Lafourche.
He resides in Thibodaux with his wife Deanna. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
- Middleton
Until his retirement in June 2010, Middleton served as poet-in-residence, Distinguished Service Professor, Alcee Fortier Professor and head of the Department of Languages and Literature.
Middleton’s books of verse include “The Burning Fields” (LSU Press, 1991), “As Far as Light Remains” (The Cummington Press, 1993), “Beyond the Chandeleurs” (LSU Press, 1999) and “The Habitual Peacefulness of Gruchy: Poems After Pictures by Jean-François Millet” (LSU Press, 2005). He also published several chapbooks of verse, the latest of which is “The Language of the Heart” (Louisiana Literature Press, 2003), a collection recognized by the book review editor of The Advocate in Baton Rouge as the best book by a Louisianian for 2003.
In April 2006 Middleton won the Allen Tate Award for best verse published in The Sewanee Review for 2005, and in November 2006, Middleton won the State of Louisiana Governor’s Award for Outstanding Professional Artist for 2006.
His verse has appeared in The Southern Review, The Sewanee Review, Louisiana Literature and elsewhere. He also serves as poetry editor for two national quarterlies: The Classical Outlook and Modern Age.
