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A world citizen who received his education at six different universities across three continents, professor of modern languages, literature, and cultures Paschal Kyoore is the 2018 winner of the Faculty Scholarly Accomplishment award at the Gustavus Adolphus College.
Kyoore, who teaches courses in French, African Studies, and Caribbean Studies, was recognized for his dedication to scholarship in the area of European colonialism and field work in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire to translate the folk tales of the Dagara people into English and French.
“To carry out such research and publish it… requires a great deal of expertise at many levels and requires tremendous care in the translation of what is found,” one nominator wrote. Professor of political science Jill Locke, who presented the award, thanked Kyoore for capturing folktales that “are in danger or receding from memory as younger generations are less and less familiar with the language and the stories.”
Kyoore’s published work, which has touched on wide-ranging topics such as the historical novel, the impact of colonial hegemony, and female identity in addition to folklore, is an example of the power of the liberal arts. “My research interests are very multifaceted, and that enables me to create a kind of dialogue among many disciplines, different regions of the world, and different cultures,” he said. “Because my publications are interdisciplinary by nature, they are of interest to scholars in areas such as race and ethnic studies, gender studies, ethnomusicology, folklore, and literature. The ability to do my research using my knowledge of several languages, and to publish in English and French has been a great asset to me.”
And yet the professor downplays his considerable individual accomplishments. “I consider the award to be a tribute to the informants who over the years have generously shared their knowledge with me any time I have embarked on a research project,” he said.
First awarded in 1986, the Faculty Scholarly Accomplishment Award was reestablished in 2004 and is now announced during the annual Honours Day Convocation.
Award recipients are nominated for this honour by fellow faculty members based on professional accomplishments regarding research activities in private, public, or corporate settings; publication; presentations at scholarly meetings or conferences; and exhibits or performances.
By J. J. Akin
