Meet Returning Board Member Alain-Philippe Durand
By Leah Hewitt
Alain-Philippe Durand (who goes by his initials A-P) originally hails from Marseille, France and came to the US after his secondary schooling in France. He is the Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities at the University of Arizona, as well as a Professor of French, and an affiliated faculty member in Africana Studies, Applied Intercultural Arts Research, Latin American Studies, LGBT Studies, and Public and Applied Humanities. He has been a member of the Board of Directors at the Arizona Senior Academy for two years.
Dean Durand earned a Ph.D. in French Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after completing two Masters of Arts in French Literature and Latin American Studies at the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business, French, and Spanish at Emporia State University. He knows, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. He has published six books, numerous articles and essays, and has served on several governing boards. His scholarly work shows a continuing interest in intertextuality and cross-cultural productions in the humanities. His topics are far-ranging, including the contemporary novel (France, Brazil, and the US), French cinema, Hip-Hop culture, and the Brazilian author Jorge Amado. He has co-written a book on the role of the humanities in enterprise and the economy. His 2024 TED talk argues that the arts and humanities play a crucial role in a technological world. A-P enjoys the American system of education because it fosters exploration and flexibility. He has given two talks at the Arizona Senior Academy, one on Hip-Hop, and one on French comedic film.
In discussing the connections between the University of Arizona and the Arizona Senior Academy, A-P pointed out the extensive Humanities Seminar Program in which ASA members frequently participate, either in person or via zoom (https://hsp.arizona.edu/), as well as the educational trips abroad for adult learners that the University sponsors and that welcome ASA members (see, for example, the next trip, which A-P will be co-leading: https://humanities.arizona.edu/study-abroad-adult-learners-adriatic-treasures).
When asked about what he likes about Tucson, A-P said he enjoys the beautiful weather, vast blue skies and the quality of the light in the desert, especially after the gray skies of Rhode Island where he taught for several years. He also appreciates the laid-back, casual atmosphere of Tucson.
On a personal note, A-P is a passionate fan of soccer and a lover of desserts, especially profiteroles that he seeks out wherever he can.
Welcome A-P!