Recently, Creighton adjunct professor Jan Schneider Lund was given the high honor of Officier in the Order of the French Academic Palms. This award, which is given out by the French Ministry of Education, is the second highest rank in the order.
This order is considered one of “chivalry” and dates back to 1808, according to the press release. Being placed in the Order of the Palmes Academiques is due to “distinguished contribution to academia, education and the expansion of the French culture throughout the world.”
Though this is the most recent ranking that Lund has received in the order, she has been apart of it in other ranks for years. Lund, who has received multiple awards for her teaching including Nebraska French Teacher of the Year and Nebraska Foreign Language Teacher of the Year, has also held the position of Knight and Chevalier in the order. After receiving the position of Chevalier in the late 1990s, Lund was awarded the rank of Knight. She was the only high school teacher across a 12-state area to have it, as it was usually given to professors at the college level.
“Once you have the rank of Knight … and you continue to teach for at least five years, they notify you of eligibility for the next rank, Officier,” Lund said. “I was thusly notified two years ago and was asked to send a new CV plus letters of recommendation. I asked our acting chair, now Dean Bridgett Keegan to write for me, as well as former AVP Patrick Borchers. It is largely thanks to these two letters and other support from colleagues at Creighton that I received the promotion to Officier.”
Lund received a letter from the French Embassy at the start of March of this year, and will be given a ceremony to be awarded the medal.
Behind Lund’s obvious talent and passion for the French language lies the pursuit of education and working odd jobs before achieving her dream. Originally from Iowa, Lund pursued writing as well as journalism while in college at the University of Iowa, but had an underlying passion for French.
“I decided that if I were going to one day teach French, which had been my dream major coupled with my parents’ goal for me to become a teacher – although truth be told, they were astute because I believe people are born to teach, and that was me – I would have to study abroad, and the program I chose was at The Sorbonne,” Lund said. “I received the Degré Supérieur de Langue et de Civilisation Française. I was there for three semesters and by the time I got a B.A. in 1970, I had 72 hours of French.”
Upon graduation, Lund moved to San Francisco, Calif. to earn her master’s degree. Though circumstances arose that prevented her from doing so right away, she got a job as a bilingual legal secretary. In this position, Lund helped private firms translate legal documents. After meeting her future husband and marrying in California, Lund decided she still wanted to pursue teaching.
“On a trip back to Omaha to visit family, I walked into Brownell-Talbot school and asked if they needed a French teacher,” Lund said. “They did and we moved back here. I stayed there for four years until I had our child, and then resigned to be a stay-at-home-mom for a few years.”
After time spent at home and the need to re-enter the workforce on the horizon, Lund got a job at Ralston High School, where she taught until 2001.
“I came to Creighton in 2002 and never looked back,” Lund said.
David Vanderboegh, of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature at Creighton, said Lund was a “natural choice” when the University was looking for someone to teach beginning and intermediate French classes, as her study at Sorbonne and her many awards support her teaching history.
“Jan is a tireless worker, and her office door is always open,” Vanderboegh said. “She does so much for her students, even beyond the classroom. For example, she invites students to her home for French-themed Christmas parties. An excellent singer, she has us all sing French Christmas carols. I can say first hand that her students are very fond of her, and appreciate all that she does for them.”
In addition to her work for students, Lund is appreciated within the university and department.
“Jan is a terrific colleague, always quick to volunteer for service within the department,” Vanderboegh said. “She gets along with everyone, and is a good team player. I feel fortunate to have her on our faculty.”
Bridget Keegan, interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, sounds off on this sentiment as well, and encourages students to take a class with Lund if they can.
“It is definitely a true honor for Creighton to have a professor of Madame Lund’s caliber on our faculty,” Keegan said. “Few other places can have a French professor who has been recognized by the French government for her outstanding work. This is a very rare distinction for an academic.”
In addition to Lund’s outstanding teaching and achievements, both Vanderboegh and Keegan spoke of the importance of taking a modern language in general in a student’s years at Creighton.
“It is rewarding in so many ways, both personal and professional,” Vanderboegh said. “The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers majors and minors in French, German and Spanish, as well as a minor in Italian. One may also study Chinese, Japanese and Russian. There is no better way to broaden your mind and your knowledge of the world than to study a foreign language.”
Keegan, as not only a professor but as interim dean, expressed a similar sentiment.
“Learning another language opens up entire new worlds to you and enriches your life and your understanding of your own culture,” Keegan said. “I would just encourage students to see learning a language – and learning it beyond just introductory courses – as a way to enrich their education and to live more fully.”
Lund, who has taught at every level including grades four through 12, university level, night classes with adults and graduate school, finds that there are great aspects to every level and each one had unique parts to it, including the university level.
“It’s a great thrill to teach on the university level because for the most part the students are taking the class because they want to,” Lund said. “Yes, there are Core requirements, but they choose to take French, and as such, the intrinsic motivation is there to do well and get something out of the class.”
Lund has accomplished much in her years in education, including receiving this prestigious award and continuously being a part of such an order. Though she takes pride in teaching and has devoted her life to aspects of French and teaching, Lund also has advice for students in how to make the most of their own education.
“You don’t realize now how precious your college years are,” Lund said. “They, more than any other part of your youth, define the person you will be for the rest of your life. Savor your university years. Do all you can to make/get the most out of a college education, especially at such a prestigious school as Creighton. Partake of everything academic that Creighton has to offer and get involved in as much extra-curricular opportunities and college life as you can, also.”