Derle Long’s journey to and at ULM has proceeded as a performance usually would with the focus gradually shifting.Long shifted his career from one place to the next before he arrived at ULM and describes it as “a rather logical procession of positions.”
He started off as a junior high band director in Dallas. He worked on his master’s degree and “bounced around” working. Long then became a high school band director in Dallas before going on to work on his doctorate in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
However, Long said he always knew that he wanted to teach on the college level. In 2000, he arrived at ULM. His time at ULM has been his longest stay in one place. Long said he hopes that his “bouncing days are over.”
“ULM provides me with some great facilities, great students, great colleagues across campus, and tremendous support for VAPA from Dean Lemoine and the ULM administration,” Long said.
Long is ULM’s director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. He was recently named the Edmund Williamson Artist of the Year at the 30th Annual Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Artworks 2015 Awards ceremony.
Edmund Williamson was a Louisiana artist widely known for his large artworks in public places. These artworks include the giant dragonfly in Forsythe Park that has been a major fixture for years.
Long said it gives him great pleasure to be associated with the name of such a tremendous artist.
Sandra Lemoine, dean of the College of Arts, Education and Sciences, said she is proud to have an artist of such distinction within the college.
The Monroe Symphony Orchestra nominated Long for the award. An independent panel of judges evaluated nominations and chose Long for the award.
“To receive this award for doing what I love to do is unbelievably gratifying,” Long said.
This award is given annually to an artist who has contributed significantly to the quality of life in this community known as Cultural Region 8.
Long and VAPA have made it a priority to maintain and enhance their relationships with the arts organizations in this area such as Monroe Symphony Orchestra, Strauss Theater, Louisiana Delta Ballet, Twin City Ballet and Downtown Art Alliance.
“Dr. Long has made it one of his goals to reach out to other arts organizations in this region to strengthen our arts culture,” Lemoine said.
Long has also been a mentor and role model to many of his students.
Sara Howard, a senior art major, said she is overjoyed that the Monroe artistic community chose to honor Long with this award.
“He is visible, approachable, and highly effective. I’d like to think I could embody those qualities and be a champion for my students and their needs,” Howard said.
McKenna Giovingo, senior vocal performance major, also said she is happy that the arts community realized the importance of what Long and the VAPA department do each day. Giovingo was recently nominated for the Emerging Artist Award.
“Dr. Long goes above and beyond to ensure that we have opportunities to enrich our community with our art forms,” Giovingo said.
Long said that he views it as one of his responsibilities to create opportunities for VAPA students and faculty to be successful despite it sometimes being a “challenge in higher education in this state.”
“I hope that what I do brings focus to the incredible students and faculty we have in VAPA and campus-wide. I used to joke that we were the best-kept secret in the South. I think that secret is getting out,” Long said.
