ITEM 127-2003-0505
May 19-20, 2005
ITEM 127-2003-0505 Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Art upon Francis J. Noel III; Montana State University-Bozeman
THAT: Upon the occasion of the retirement of Francis J. Noel III from the faculty of Montana State University-Bozeman, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University System, and the people of the state of Montana.
EXPLANATION: Professor Noel had a long and illustrious career as a teacher in the School of Art at Montana State University-Bozeman. He has also been known nationally and internationally as a printmaker. During his years of service to MSU, Professor Noel made significant contributions to teaching and influenced countless numbers of art students all while remaining an active artist in his field.
As a member of the School of Art faculty, Professor Noel taught beginning and advanced printmaking, drawing and watercolor painting. He was the coordinator of the printmaking area. In addition, Fran worked with graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts program. As a teacher in the arts, Professor Noel was successful in creating a nationally known printmaking program that hosted many artist symposiums and promoted the School of Art and the University as an important regional art center.
Fran was also instrumental in bringing safe studio work practice to the School of Art, particularly the use of water-based inks in printmaking which eliminated toxic fumes in the studio. Fran was active in the Northwest Print Council and served on the Board of Directors from 1981 - 1992.
Professor Noel's own work has been shown all over the United States and Europe and he has had numerous gallery affiliations. His work has been published with regularity since 1963 and has appeared in Colorprint USA and Journal of the Print World. The retrospective exhibition currently on display in the Copeland Gallery attests to Fran's prolific abilities as an artist and his dedication to his work. Perhaps Professor Noel's most important recognition as an artist was his 1982 Visual Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Throughout his career Fran exhibited his work in more than one hundred national and international exhibits and had his work included in prominent collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon Francis J. Noel III the rank of Professor Emeritus of Art at Montana State University-Bozeman and wishes him well for many years in the future.