James Housefield honored as Piper Professor for 2007

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
May 2, 2007

James Edwin Housefield, Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Art and Design faculty member, has been named Piper Professor for 2007 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

Housefield was named Piper Professor on May 1 in honor of his dedication and service to teaching at the collegiate level. Piper Foundation honorees are chosen by committee members who look for well-rounded, outgoing teachers, devoted to their profession and have made a special impact on their students and the community.

“To share with others the art and ideas that I love is an honor; to see my students put into practice these ideas is an even greater honor,” Housefield said. “I am deeply grateful to have earned the support and recognition of my students, colleagues, community, and of the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

“I dream that awards like this may foster a greater place for the arts in all of our lives,” he said. “Public recognition like this should bring attention to the exceptional teaching and learning that happens across Texas State University’s campus, in the Austin Museum of Art where my educational mission continues, and in our communities where future generations of our students work to assemble a better tomorrow for us all.”

A member of the Texas State faculty since 2000, Housefield began serving a three-year term as the university’s National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities. In addition to teaching, he is founder and organizer of the Texas State Arts and Culture Lecture Series, area coordinator for art history, art history research supervisor, chair of the Library Research Grants Committee, member of the University Library Committee, department library liaison and supervisor of the Departmental Visual Resources Center. He is active in the regional visual arts community and currently serves as adjunct curator of the Austin Museum of Art. Housefield will also be featured in the 13-episode PBS miniseries State of Tomorrow, discussing the importance and future of the arts in Texas.

In addition to being named a Piper Professor, Housefield also has received numerous accolades, including the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator Award, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, favorite professor awards from student organizations, and many other awards for his teaching.

Housefield earned his B.A. in French from Vanderbilt University, his master’s in art history from the University of Texas and his Ph.D in art history from Boston University.

Housefield is the 7th consecutive Texas State professor and 16th overall to be named a Piper Professor. Other Texas State Piper Professors have been Emmie Craddock, 1962, history; Robert Galvan, 1968, modern languages; Thomas Brasher, 1970, English; Dan Farlow, 1975, political science; Clarence Schultz, 1976, sociology; Henrietta Avent, 1979, health and physical education; Robert Walts, 1982, English; Beverly Chiodo, 1988, computer information systems and administrative sciences; Barbara Hatcher, 1993, curriculum and instruction; Michael John Hennessy, 2001, English; Nancy Fehl Chavkin, 2002, social work; Paul Nathan Cohen, 2003, English; James David Bell, 2004, business; Byron Dale Augustin, 2005, geography; and Christopher Frost, 2006, psychology.