Photo by Pathik Shah

Nina Tucci
TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD

TUCCI TURNS A FRENCH TALE INTO A WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE

Nina Tucci’s classes may not be as rousing as “The Three Musketeers” or as bittersweet as the “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Her lectures, however, leave students “with their eyes opened to a more intricate and fascinating world,” according to a former student who nominated Tucci, associate professor of French, for a Teaching Excellence Award.

Described as “a firecracker, full of energy and bursting with enthusiasm” by another former student, Tucci has spent nearly 30 years teaching French literature, grammar and composition as well as French cinema at the university. She also served as director of UH’s summer program in Bourges, France, for six years and established an internship program for advanced students and placed them in various French companies.

“In a typical literature class, Dr. Tucci pulls information from history, psychology and art to put literature in a larger context,” the nominator wrote. “Listen to Dr. Tucci lecture on Cinderella and your view of the character will be profoundly changed.”

This award is given to faculty in recognition of outstanding achievement in teaching. Recipients are honored with a trophy and a $5,000 prize.

Francine Parker
Staff writer

View full list of 2009 award recipients                   Past award recipients