Department of Design Chair Fabienne Münch was awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (“Order of Academic Palms”), a French national order bestowed on distinguished academics and teachers and for valuable service to universities, education and science. 

Münch received the award for her key role in the creation of the Chicago campus of an International Research Center, a partnership between the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France’s national scientific research agency) and the University of Chicago.

“It is an immense privilege to be recognized by the French government and be awarded the Palmes Académiques,” Münch said. “I am honored to have rendered service to French education and contributed to establishing an International Research Center on the campus of the University of Chicago. This recognition is a testament to the importance of the cooperation efforts of scholars in France and in the United States to address the world’s greatest challenges. More significantly, it is a tribute to the freedom of scientific investigation that our two countries have shared for so long, and that I wish will never end.”

French Consul Yannick Tagand and Scientific Attaché Valérie Livrelli presented the award to Münch at a celebration at Ohio State’s Faculty Club on Sept. 12.