Press Releases

Le Chevallier Selected as Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

Pictured from left: Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, president of NCC, Katherine Wiggins Fisher, chair of NCC Board of Trustees, Dr. Jay Sullivan, provost of NCC, and George Le Chevallier

Nash Community College selects Georges Le Chevallier to receive the 2023 J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore Excellence in Teaching Award.

The late Mr. and Mrs. J. Edgar Moore of Rocky Mount were longtime supporters of the College. As the award recipient, Le Chavllier receives the J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore monetary award, a recognition plaque, and an opportunity to attend the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Conference in Austin, Texas. He will also represent the College for the NC Community College System statewide award nomination and serve as faculty marshal in the College’s graduation ceremony.

The Excellence in Teaching Award nomination process began with three full-time curriculum faculty members being selected for consideration based on the results of evaluations by students for the 2022 academic year. These faculty members wrote a short essay and were allowed to select faculty to submit essays of support following peer observation.

Le Chevallier was born in Paris, France, to a French father and a Puerto Rican mother; however, he grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He started his educational journey at the prestigious “Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando” in Madrid, where he studied painting. After this study, he earned his Associate of Arts degree from El Camino College (Torrance, C.A.), a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Hunter College (New York City, N.Y.).

His mixed-media paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally in distinguished galleries and museums worldwide, like The Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia, Green Hill in Greensboro, Central Gallery in Budapest, El Museo del Barrio in NYC and many others. Le Chevallier has also created multiple public art installations throughout the USA, Mexico, Hungary, Tanzania, France, Guatemala and Chile.

“I have been able to take these experiences and bring them to the classroom,” said Le Chevallier. “These moments and work that I have accomplished allows me to share firsthand knowledge and experience of the challenges I face daily in my art profession.”

His teaching philosophy revolves around five core pillars.

“It is my belief that a teacher’s knowledge and positive influence can guide students in continued growth even after they leave the structured classroom environment. With this, I have developed pillars to my philosophy, including compassion, organization, communication, entertainment and inclusivity,” said Le Chevallier.

Le Chevallier’s teaching philosophy dictates his interaction with his students. It serves as the framework for his extensive work over 20 years of bi-lingual teaching experience across different educational levels.

He enjoys the positive changes he continues to bring that keep alive the educational process started by the staff and faculty at NCC. He is proud of his work and continues to do in his professional and academic career.

“NCC influences the lives of hundreds of students for the better,” said Le Chevallier. “These students will leave this learning institution to make a difference in their communities, the country, and hopefully, the World. These positive changes will, in turn, keep alive the educational process started by the staff and faculty at Nash Community College. It goes without saying what an honor it is for me to be part of the Nash family.”

Le Chevallier has been awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, a Travelocity Travel for Good Grant, a Millersville University Cultural Events Grant and a Professional Development Grant for Artists from the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and North Carolina Arts Council.

He has also been part of art residencies such as the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences in Georgia, Chemin D’Art in Saint-Flour (France), The Bagamoyo African Modern Art Project in Tanzania, the Hungarian Multicultural Center in Balatonfured and the Chilean National Arts Endowment’s III Sculpture Symposium in Putaendo, Chile.