A Habit of Excellence
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." ~Aristotle
Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty and scholars are quietly establishing national and international acclaim for their work, continually developing a habit of excellence. The dedication and passion shown to their students is admirable in and of itself but paired with the dogged pursuit of excellence in research and creative scholarship, the accomplishments of Minnesota State Mankato faculty are extraordinary. Each April, the Center for Excellence in Research and Scholarship recognizes these extraordinary contributions.
In 2009, the Distinguished Faculty Scholars are John J. Janc, Richard Robbins, and Richard Terrill. They make a collection of scholars who enjoy knighthood, awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, and Fulbright fellowships.
Before consulting the original manuscript of Victor Hugo's 1829 play Marion de Lorme, housed at the Bibliothéque Nationale de France in Paris, professor of modern languages John Janc works with a microfilm of the work.
To say that Dr. John Janc teaches French and French literature is a bit of an understatement. Indeed, he is a leader in the field. One letter of support states, "[Janc] pursued foreign language pedagogy in his studies when the field was still in its infancy." But he is not only a teacher of teachers.
Among his many accomplishments while at Minnesota State Mankato, Janc established the University's Summer Study in France program in 1979 and continues to serve as director; received academic knighthood by the French Government in 1986; and was named the 2008 Minnesota French Teacher of the Year.
However, Janc's real passion may be the writings of Victor Hugo. Over the past 32 years, Janc has patiently pursued a type of specialized academic research in original French language documents called "édition critique." He spends time every December in the Bibliothéque Nationale de France reviewing Hugo's original manuscripts.
In the past 30 years, Janc is the only scholar who has published critical editions of Victor Hugo's plays, making him an internationally recognized scholar of 19th century French literature. Janc is currently preparing a fourth volume, Marion De Lorme. Edition critique. While it was difficult for him to identify one motivating factor in his ongoing research Janc said, "Knowing that I am able to share my love for Victor Hugo with my students through my research and help them appreciate and value one of France's greatest writers comes at the top of the list."
Professor of English Richard Robbins, director of the creative writing program since its inception, has developed the Good Thunder Visiting Writers Series into one of the nation's premier visiting writers programs.
In the Department of English, Richard Robbins has been described as "the heart and soul of the Creative Writing Program," serving as director since its establishment in 1988 and developing the Good Thunder Visiting Writers Series into one of the premier visiting writers series in the country.
As a creative writing professor, he feels a special obligation to "walk the walk", claiming the bedrock of his credibility is his continued writing, publishing, and performing. Robbins wrote, "My work over the years has focused on creating poetry and prose that will seem to editors to be original and important." Robbins' success in his attempts is apparent.
Granted fellowships by both Scotland's Hawthornden International Retreat for Writers and the National Endowment for the Arts, he enjoys international and national acclaim for his writing. Ted Kooser, Pulitzer Prize winner and former Poet Laureate, offered praise for Robbins' book Famous Persons We Have Known, "There is something fresh in almost every line, and when I came to the end of the last poem, I felt I'd been given a world."
As much as Robbins values writing and teaching and the Good Thunder series, making time for everything can be a challenge. Robbins said, "The award seems to say the balancing act is working, and for that I'm grateful, especially since I know we have outstanding colleagues at Minnesota State Mankato doing important work in a broad variety of fields."
More than 19 years ago, professor of English Richard Terrill established the monthly Writers Bloc, an open reading series that gives students the opportunity to read their work in public.
Creative writing professor Richard Terrill has made a profound impact on students and the literary community. MFA graduate Bronson Lemer said, "Because of him, I am a better writer and a better teacher." There is, perhaps, no greater praise for a teaching professor.
Terrill is one of the reasons Minnesota State Mankato receives high praise for its production of writers and its writing community. More than 19 years ago, he established the monthly Writers Bloc, an open reading series, which gives students the opportunity to read their work in public.
In addition to being a great teacher, Terrill is a renowned writer. Motivating students while continuing to publish in two genres—creative nonfiction and poetry—is something he has done for years. Some of Terrill's notable awards include a Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, three Senior Fulbright Fellowships, and a Minnesota Book Award.
Sometimes surprised by what his writing reveals, Terrill enjoys the process. "I'm motivated by the excitement that the process of writing affords, a discovery of what I didn't know I believed," he said.
Terrill often writes about music; however, his subjects also cover China, contemporary writing, spirituality, and nature. His work has been described as "extraordinarily wide–ranging" by his colleagues and has appeared in Ireland, China, and South Korea.
This year's distinguished faculty scholars, Janc, Robbins, and Terrill, have earned national and international acclaim for their collection of work. The CESR director, Steve Bohnenblust, expects the University's reputation for excellence in scholarship and research to continue to grow because at Minnesota State Mankato, excellence is a habit.
