Announcement - april 23, 2013

France Presents Joseph Parello With Legion of Honor Insignia

Dr. Joseph Parello, Ph.D., former Research Director at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Research Council, France) from 1968 to 2004, Visiting Scholar at Vanderbilt University, Department of Pharmacology, has been nominated by a decree made on December 31, 2012 by the President of the Republic of France, Mr. François Hollande, to receive the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honor. Dr. Parello has been congratulated by the French Minister of Science, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the French Ambassador to the United States, and the Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. The award is bestowed on him for 51 years of service in science (organic chemistry; biophysics) including a variety of international collaborations in Europe (MRC, Cambridge, UK; ETH, Zürich, Switzerland) and in the United States (Stanford University; University of California San Diego; Vanderbilt University). The insignia will be presented to him by Professor Annick Suzor-Weiner, Ph.D., Scientific Counselor at the Embassy of France, during a ceremony to be held at Vanderbilt University on April 30, 2013.

For his work, he has received numerous awards, including three in France: the Prix National de Biophysique from the Ministry of Research and Higher Education (1984), the Prix Dhéré from The National Academy of Sciences (1993), and the Prix Girard from the National Academy of Pharmacologie (1994). Dr. Parello is also a talented artist who is constantly working to enhance the Franco-American friendship.

Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion of Honor is the highest honor of France. It recognizes distinguished service to the French Republic on the nomination of the President himself.

See Consulate General of France in Atlanta announcement.