November 2, 1999
Contact: Bunny Smith, University Relations, (785) 864-8860.
LAWRENCE -- Andrew P. Debicki, dean of the University of Kansas Graduate School and International Programs, will receive the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages' fifth Award for Distinguished Service in the Profession at the Modern Language Association's convention Dec. 27 to 30 in Chicago.
The ADFL distinguished service award is one of the MLA's top career awards and honors eminent scholar-teachers for exceptional contributions to foreign languages, literatures and cultures at the post-secondary level.
The director of three National Endowment for the Humanities summer seminars for college teachers and the author of eight books and numerous articles on Spanish poetry, Debicki also is known for developing 20th-century Hispanic poetry as a field of study and for mentoring young Hispanists.
"I can think of no one more deserving of recognition," KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "This award brings into focus Andy Debicki's truly extraordinary contributions as a scholar, teacher and leader in higher education."
Debicki, a university distinguished professor of Spanish and Portuguese, came to KU in 1968. He co-directed KU's Center for Humanistic Studies and was the acting chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. He directed the Hall Center for the Humanities from 1989 to 1993, when he was named dean of the Graduate School. He served as vice chancellor for research, graduate studies and public service from 1994 to 1996.
"This is an honor not just for me, but also for the University of Kansas, since my whole career has been developed here and with wonderful KU support throughout," Debicki said.