Southeastern safety specialist to receive national educator award
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – A Southeastern Louisiana University specialist in workplace safety will be recognized with a major award by the American Society of Safety Engineers at the organization's professional development conference in June in Dallas.
Lu Yuan, a certified safety professional, associate professor and coordinator of the university's occupational, safety, health and environment program, will be honored with the association's Outstanding Safety Educator Award. The award is named after Dr. William E. Tarrants, a long-time contributor to the advancement of safety and health program accreditation.
"Dr. Yuan played an integral role in helping the occupational, safety, health and environment program receive its national accreditation by ABET, one of the world's leading accrediting agencies for applied sciences," said Sebastian van Delden, head of the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology. "He has excelled as an educator, teaching at all levels of our OSH&E curriculum, and provides innovative student engagements through hands-on experiences and valuable internship opportunities."
Yuan was nominated by Lance S. Roux, certified safety professional and the principal consultant at SafetyPro Resources in Baton Rouge, who recommended Yuan due to his teaching effectiveness, scholarship, and service to the profession.
Roux, who is the area director of the American Society of Safety Engineers, said Yuan has completed several funded research grants on various aspects of workplace safety, published articles in professional publications, and has served as an ABET program evaluator. Roux said he is a trusted advisor and educator of future professionals in safety, health and environment and enthusiastically promotes collaboration with local industry to help ensure overall assurance of the program quality.
Yuan holds the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors Professorship and in 2012 received the Langlois-Weigand Award from the ASSE Greater Baton Rouge Chapter for his roles at the university and for being a trusted advisor and educator of future safety professionals.
