A political science professor became the first “professor emeritus” from the University of the Philippines Cebu.
Prof. Felisa U. Etemadi, a multi-awarded teacher and internationally known researcher, was appointed professor emeritus by the university’s governing Board of Regents (BOR).
For 30 years, Etemadi taught courses in Asian history, research and political science in UP Cebu. She rose to Professor 12, the UP System’s peak academic rank in 2009.
According to a memorandum released by UP Cebu Dean Liza Corro, the BOR made the appointment in its meeting last Feb. 28 in the university’s Diliman campus.
The designation “professor emeritus” is a title for life and recognizes a retired faculty member who has “rendered at least 20 years of active and faithful service to the University and has achieved marked distinction as a productive scholar, artist, or scientist, or is widely acknowledged as an effective and dedicated teacher,” according to UP’s faculty manual.
Etemadi’s latest accolade is a source of pride for UP Cebu, Corro said.
“This acknowledgment made by UP System of our Professor Emeritus, with the others recognized together with her, is a morale booster for the whole system’s faculty workforce,” she said.
“Even now that she is a retired professor, Prof. Etemadi’s life-time work as a professor and the contributions she had made to her field of study and to the university, apparently do not go unnoticed in the UP System,” Corro said.
Etemadi launched in December 2012 a compilation of her various research studies over two decades in the book titled “People Participation in Urban Governance in Cebu, A Reader.”
Friends and colleagues have been heaping praise and congratulations for Etemadi on Facebook.
“Your former students and colleagues in the social sciences division are so proud and honored with your appointment” said Prof. Zenaida Ligan.
Dean Corro encouraged the UP Cebu community to nominate other qualified professors for the rare honor. The last day for accepting nominees is April 11.