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08/10/2012 | DLIFLC honors professors in rank advancement ceremony | MONTEREY, Calif. - The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center promoted twenty-nine employees from associate professor to professor, at a Professor Advancement Ceremony July 19. In the academic field, the title of professor is the highest attainable rank one can achieve while still working hands-on with students or curriculum.
To start off the ceremony, the provost and the commandant, Dr. Donald Fischer and Col. Danial Pick respectively, congratulated the professors and expressed their pride in sharing this momentous occasion with them. 
"This is no small task, and a task that has taken decades in some cases to achieve, but in all cases is a recognition of your professionalism, your skill, your commitment to excellence, and your dedication to this mission," said Col. Pick.
For Gregory Menke, an academic specialist at the Persian Farsi School, and a newly rank-advanced professor, not only was he honored to be recognized, but also realizes he is incredibly fortunate to have worked at DLIFLC for ten years and says he feels like "part of the family."
While DLIFLC's "family" of professional and dedicated civilian employees is extensive, with well over 2,000 faculty members, only six percent of those hold the rank of professor.
Candidates for professor are required to have a doctorate, must have held the rank of associate professor for three years, and must be able to demonstrate competency in three different areas.
"Someone has to have three areas of expertise and I've been lucky because I was able to work in faculty development, curriculum development, and technology integration. Some people that I think are also deserving maybe didn't have the opportunity to work in three different areas like that, so I've been extremely fortunate," said Menke.
Yi Long, director of the Language Training Detachment in Kunia, Hawaii, and recently rank advanced professor, met her requirements over the past ten years through working as a faculty development specialist, instructor for the Chinese Basic Course, and her current position at the LTD.
"I'm tremendously grateful to DLI for the opportunities they have afforded me because so far I've had a wonderful career and amazing learning opportunities and although my job won't change very much, in my heart there's a lot of enthusiasm to do more and to do better," said Long.
Rick Donovan, the Faculty Personnel System Manager, voiced the same sentiment saying, "Their job won't necessarily change; they are seen as now having different standards and are expected to contribute more to DLI."
After Dr. Fischer congratulated the professors, he said, "We are a highly credible institute and that's because of you and the faculty members that will come behind you in your places."
This was the first professor promotion ceremony held at DLIFLC in some years and the personnel office already has plans to continue with this type of recognition. The next rank advancement ceremony is planned for April of 2013, for those becoming associate professors, and the next professor advancement is planned for December 2013.
Story and Photo Credits Story by: Devon Swanson, Strategic Communications
Photo by: Pvt. 1st Class Scolaighe Goebert
Photo Caption: One of DLIFLC's newest professors, Dr. Jiaying Howard receiving her rank advancement certificate from Col. Pick, Col. Ryan and Dr. Donald Fischer.
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