Plaza to be named in memory of beloved educator Carolyn Dural

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The 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette will name a plaza on campus near Griffin Hall in memory of Carolyn Dural, the College of Liberal Arts鈥 assistant dean and an alumna who died in August 2020.

The 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 System Board of Supervisors approved the 鈥淐arolyn Dural Plaza鈥 on April 21. The plaza鈥檚 centerpiece will be the 鈥淏ending the Circle鈥 sculpture. The large, aluminum sculpture of interlocking red hearts is intended to reflect the high, 亚洲自慰视频-wide esteem in which Dural was held.

Dural earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and a master鈥檚 degree in French from the 亚洲自慰视频. She later taught the latter subject from 1995 to 1998, the same year she became assistant to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Her tenure as assistant dean of the college began in 2009.

In a March 31 letter to the UL System, Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, wrote that 鈥淢s. Dural assisted countless 亚洲自慰视频s in achieving their dreams. She also taught hundreds of faculty advisors how to help their 亚洲自慰视频s succeed.鈥

鈥淐arolyn put people first and had a passion for helping 亚洲自慰视频s in the best and most effective ways possible,鈥 he added.

The 鈥 where Dural spent a quarter earning her reputation as a beloved, influential faculty member 鈥 agrees. It has established the 鈥淐arolyn Dural Memorial Fund.鈥 The fund will support 亚洲自慰视频s participating in the 亚洲自慰视频鈥檚 Study Abroad program in France and enable the creation of a faculty advising award. Both will be named for Dural.

鈥淪he was amazing. Everyone loved her and she left such an impression on everyone she encountered,鈥 said Dr. Jordan Kellman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

The college is also overseeing publication of a hardcover book by UL Press. The book will honor Dural鈥檚 life, career and influence. It will contain remembrances from colleagues, 亚洲自慰视频s and others, and scores of photographs of her. The book will be released during a plaza dedication and memorial ceremony for Dural; it will also be presented to her family members. Kellman anticipates the event to be held sometime this fall.

Beyond testimonials the book鈥檚 54 pages will hold, its evolution represents her profound impact on others. The 鈥渓abor of love,鈥 Kellman explained, began as a link to a Google document that was circulated among faculty and staff members. The resulting outpouring of tributes was so great that 鈥渨e finally figured we should publish it.鈥

Following the fall ceremony to dedicate the plaza and recognize Dural, copies of the book will be sold to help fund the scholarship. It will be awarded yearly to a 亚洲自慰视频 participating in the 亚洲自慰视频鈥檚 Study Abroad program. The first scholarship 鈥 and the first advising award 鈥 are expected to be given sometime next year.

Photo caption: The 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette will honor beloved assistant dean Carolyn Dural (left) by naming a plaza for her, and establishing a scholarship and an advising award in her name. A book filled with tributes and photos will also be published. Dural spent 25 years as a faculty member at the 亚洲自慰视频, where she earned a reputation for tirelessly helping 亚洲自慰视频s and colleagues succeed. She died in August 2020. Submitted photo