ATLANTA - Dr. Jay Lutz will receive the Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French government on Monday, February 27, at 5:00 p.m. in the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. Lutz is the Frances I. Eeeraerts ‘76 Professor of Foreign Language at Oglethorpe University and the chair of the foreign language department and has been with the university since 1988.

The Palmes Académiques was created by Napoleon in 1808 to reward devotion and accomplishment in teaching. The Atlanta Consul General of France, Philippe Ardanaz, will present this award to Lutz “for service rendered to the French culture” through his teaching. Dr. Lutz will receive the award in the rank of Chevalier and has been congratulated by the United States Ambassador to France.

“Oglethorpe is honored to have Dr. Lutz receive this distinction. He is the anchor of our foreign language program and has helped facilitate study abroad opportunities for countless Oglethorpe students and their international counterparts. As a teacher and scholar, he has inspired several generations of students to immerse themselves in French language and culture,” said Larry Schall, Oglethorpe University President.

Dr. Lutz has a bachelor’s degree in literature from Antioch College in Ohio and a master’s and doctorate in French literature from Yale University. He is a teacher, author, speaker and translator in both French and Swedish. Lutz spent nearly ten years living in France and working as the translator for Joe Allen Restaurants.