Dr. Tabbetha Dobbins is a fairly busy assistant professor, but her research and teaching success have not gone unnoticed. The joint physics faculty member at Grambling State and Louisiana Tech has brought the two universities together to celebrate her most recent achievement – a coveted National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award.
This five-year, $400,000 grant is NSF’s most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.
“The CAREER awards are not easy to come by,” said Dr. Robert Dixon, provost and vice president for academic affairs at GSU. “I know people who have gone after them and not succeeded. This is an achievement for both institutions and a display of our continued cooperation for the future.”
Stan Napper, dean of the College of Engineering and Science, said that Dobbins was just starting her academic career and was already accomplishing much.
“We’re bringing our two [university] families together,” Napper said at a luncheon honoring Dobbins at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant. “We’re celebrating this accomplishment of Tabbetha taking the lead.”
Dobbins herself credited the two universities working together for her award.
“You’ve given me a great starting point in my career,” Dobbins said. “Thank you for the cooperation you’ve instituted.”
Tech President Dan Reneau added that Dobbins’s addition to Grambling’s and Tech’s staffs only increased the working relationship between the two institutions.
“In these times, it’s good to show the accomplished cooperation that exists in northern Louisiana,” Reneau said. “Tabbetha has allowed us to showcase a very successful piece of cooperation between two very fine universities.