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The French government has recognized President Ann McElaney-Johnson’s lifelong dedication to and promotion of the French language, culture and history by bestowing her with the esteemed Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms) rank of chevalier (knight).

President McElaney Johnson was informed of the honor last year, but it took some time to find a mutually convenient date for the ceremony, which was held on March 21 at the Résidence de France, the residence of the French consulate in Los Angeles.

“Dr. McElaney-Johnson has gone above and beyond to merit this title, and it is our honor to share this special occasion,” says Consul General Julie Duhaut-Bedos.

The original award was established in 1808 by Emperor Napoleon to recognize teachers at the University of Paris. The award classifications and qualifications underwent several changes; in 1866 it expanded to include non-teaching researchers as well as cultural leaders and opened nominations for citizens from other countries whose educational achievements foster an appreciation of French language and culture.

In 1955, the current structure was instituted with three grades of recognitions: knight (chevalier), officer (officier) and commander (commandeur); promotion to a higher rank can generally only be made after a minimum of five years in the preceding one. The prime minister makes the final decisions on awards and promotions.

President McElaney-Johnson’s roots as a Francophile date back to her days as a scholar, as she earned her bachelor’s degree in French Language and Literature at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, followed by a master’s in French Language and Literature at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, and a doctor of philosophy in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her love of the French language and culture made her the perfect person to highlight the spiritual and educational roots of Mount Saint Mary’s when she became its president in 2011. The University was founded in 1925 by a group of visionary educators descended from an order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) initially founded in Le Puy, France, in 1650.

President McElaney-Johnson has made a priority of highlighting and celebrating all CSJs, particularly those have taught and served the University. In 2016, the University established the CSJ Institute to preserve our founders’ history and advance their mission to serve all persons without distinction.

She also leads the annual pilgrimage to Le Puy, France, for faculty, staff, and alumnae. In 2018, Mount Saint Mary’s purchased and preserved the Bas-en-Basset birthplace of Mother St. John Fontbonne, a central figure in CSJ history, which has become one of the highlights of the trip. The home now serves as a welcoming space for pilgrims and as a study center for faculty and students.

“The language, culture and history of France provided the foundation for everything I have achieved in my educational career,” McElaney-Johnson says, “and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to introduce our Mount Saint Mary's community to the beauty of the French culture and language as we explore our spiritual roots in France.

“I always stress with our students how life changing it can be to learn a new language, to study a culture different from your own and to study abroad. So, it would be quite accurate to say that this honor means the world to me.”