Lifetime Achievement Award in European Studies for Professor Mike Smith
Author: Helen Drake
The University Association of Contemporary European Studies (UACES) has awarded its 2010 prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in European Studies to Loughborough’s Professor of European Politics and Jean Monnet Chair, Mike Smith. Mike received the award at the Association’s Annual Conference dinner in Bruges on Tuesday 7th September this year where several hundred UACES members were delighted to join in his celebration.
Professor Mike Smith
Mike has been at Loughborough since 1994. Between 1994-1997, he was UACES Chair at a time of great change for the organisation, and in 2008, Mike chaired the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) Sub-Panel for European Studies. Mike’s career has been characterised by his leading scholarship, and by his selfless service to several generations of colleagues and students. His reputation in the study of relations between the European Union (EU) and the USA is without parallel, and he has helped define the field of European Studies itself, putting Loughborough on the map as a pioneer and centre of excellence in the field. He has taught countless students about his subjects, with patience and passion, and has set many doctoral supervisees en route for promising careers of their own. Testimonials from former PhD students collected for Mike’s award all mention not only Mike’s invaluable intellectual inspiration, but his kindness and insight as supervisor, colleague and friend. All of us in the PHIR Department at Loughborough congratulate Mike on his thoroughly well-deserved award, and thank him for his ongoing work for PHIR, Loughborough University, European Studies, and the academic profession.
Photo courtesy of Helen Drake
Mike shares a joke after the award ceremony in Bruges with Loughborough’s Professor Dave Allen.