Ruffin Named Distinguished Professor of English
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Paul Ruffin |
Paul Ruffin, an acclaimed author who has also brought recognition
to Sam Houston State University through his development of
"The Texas Review" and The Texas Review Press, has
been named Distinguished Professor of English.
The Texas State University System Board of Regents conferred
the title on Ruffin at their recent meeting on campus, praising
him for his classroom efforts, his literary production, and
for developing the "Review" and Press with only
an extremely limited budget and hard work.
"'The Texas Review' and 'The Texas Review Press' hold
a substantial place in the literary life of the nation, a
fact that redounds not only to Dr. Ruffin’s reputation
but also the prestige of Sam Houston State University and
the state of Texas," according to the resolution approved
by the regents.
Ruffin, who has taught at Sam Houston State since 1975, is
the eighth faculty member to receive "distinguished"
status. Others include Jimmy Merchant and Harry Bohan, now
retired, and the late George Beto and Fisher Tull. Active
distinguished professors in addition to Ruffin are James Olson,
Rolando del Carmen, and Charles Friel.
"Being granted the title of distinguished professor
by the Texas State University Board of Regents is the highlight
of my academic career," Ruffin said. "I am flattered
and honored to be so recognized by this august group, and
I trust that I will continue to live up to their expectations."
The full text of the regents' resolution:
RESOLUTION
Whereas, Dr. Paul D. Ruffin, Professor of
English at Sam Houston State University, has earned distinction
in his field as a highly respected and much admired editor
for his continuing accomplishments, his boundless energy,
and his personal and professional gifts as a teacher, professor,
editor, writer, and scholar. A significant figure in Texas
and Southern creative writing circles, he has elevated the
reputation of The Texas Review to national standing;
under his editorship, it has remained one of the best regarded
literary publications in the country.
Whereas, his writings and engagements across
the country have made him known beyond Sam Houston State University
and Texas, it is The Texas Review that has added
significantly to his influence as a writer, editor, and publisher.
In 1976, with the urging of his academic dean and the able
assistance of his English faculty colleagues, the first issue
of what would become The Texas Review was launched.
In 1979, with limited funds, the Texas Review Press
was born with the publication of a collection of Texas poetry
and photography called The Texas Anthology. From
those humble beginnings with budget limitations, no teaching
load release time, and a tremendous amount of work involved,
the determination to keep the quality of work high and continue
brought glowing accolades and a boost in recognition in the
state; another year brought publication of fine fiction and
poetry from all across the country. He has brought The
Texas Review to a place of national prominence in the
world of literary journals wherein writers nationally and
internationally assess its value as a place to be published
and a source of outstanding poetry, fiction, and criticism.
Taken together, The Texas Review and The Texas
Review Press hold a substantial place in the literary
life of the nation, a fact that redounds not only to Dr. Ruffin’s
reputation but also the prestige of Sam Houston State University
and the state of Texas.
Whereas, with the talent and work-ethic to
become an outstanding and productive writer as well as an
inspiring teacher and mentor for students, Dr. Ruffin accomplished
his creative production in multiple categories of expression:
poetry, fiction, criticism, journalism, editing, and publishing.
His body of work speaks for itself; it is creatively prolific
and consistently high in quality.
Whereas, the publication of original material,
maintenance of a journal, and management of a staff in addition
to his teaching responsibilities, professional involvement,
and responsibility would be regarded by many as daunting.
His own writing of short fiction and his novels, as well as
his poetry, have been critically praised in The New York
Times and Publisher’s Weekly. The poems
and stories in texts such as Little, Brown’s Introduction
to Poetry, Harcourt Brace’s College Handbook
of Creative Writing, and Ploughshares’ Contemporary
Southern Fiction place his work before a much wider audience
than that for the literary journals alone. His many invitations
to workshops and to read at colleges and universities attest
further to the extent of his national reputation. His work
is known to a large circle of his peers, to students, and
to those in general interested in literature.
Whereas, his students express their respect
and admiration for his pedagogical ability ensuring his reputation
as one of the university’s more popular and effective
teachers. His work as a writer helps to enrich his teaching
at the University because by utilizing his own background,
he can encourage his students to celebrate and explore their
own heritage. Ruffin’s meticulous habits of revision
are also extremely significant and set an example for other
creative writers because he shows them that once the memory
has been mined for material, it must be shaped and point of
view, verb tense, structures, and other areas must be explored.
He reclaims ordinary life by finding value or a lesson in
lives that his creative vision probes. He is regarded as a
writer who causes us to remember people who have been forgotten
and also saying some bold things about regular lives.
Whereas, Dr. Ruffin has achieved a stunning
record of publication with over six hundred poems published
in top journals throughout the United States including Alaska
and Hawaii and over fifty stories and essays over a similar
geographic range. Sole author of nine books, co-author or
co-editor of another seven. Ruffin has done hundreds of reviews,
interviews, readings, and workshops at some sixty colleges
and universities across the nation. He has been honored with
membership in the Texas Institute of Letters, the Mississippi
Institute of Arts and Letters, and the Academy of American
Poets. He is listed in the Directory of American Poets and
Writers and in seven Who’s Who publications. Dedicated
and hard-working throughout his career of nearly three decades,
his accomplishments across the full range of teaching, service,
publication, and other creative activity at Sam Houston State
University are truly distinguished. In recognition of an academic
career marked by eminence, distinction, and excellence, Sam
Houston State University unequivocally recommends Dr. Paul
D. Ruffin to the Board of Regents, The Texas State University
System, for the designation as Distinguished Professor; be
it therefore
Resolved, that all elements of Sam Houston State University
and the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System,
proffer to Professor Paul D. Ruffin their gratitude and esteem;
and be it further
Resolved, that Professor Paul D. Ruffin be formally designated
as Distinguished Professor of English at Sam Houston State
University and hold that title in perpetuity.
Adopted by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University
System., on November 21, 2003.
Signed by regents Kent M. Adams, Patricia Diaz Dennis, Alan
W. Dreeben, John E. Dudley, Dionicio "Don" Flores,
Bernie Francis, James A. Hayley, Nancy R. Neal and Pollyanna
A. Stephens, and Lamar G. Urbanovsky, chancellor.
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
Dec. 3, 2003
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