UNA’s French Program Awarded Exemplary Program with Distinction from AATF

Apr. 23, 2026

Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392

FLORENCE, AL – The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) has conferred its award of Exemplary Program with Distinction on the University of North Alabama. This award recognizes the outstanding quality of the French program within the Department of Foreign Languages. The UNA program is one of only six in the nation to receive the award in 2026.

“I am delighted that AATF has chosen to recognize the UNA French program,” said Dr. Stephanie Coker, Associate Professor in French. “This honor not only acknowledges the achievements of our outstanding alumni, who use their French skills working in various fields, but I believe this distinction will potentially attract new students to the UNA French program.”

Thanks to the excellent nature of the program, UNA has increased its enrollment in French throughout the past three years. The program also makes use of innovative and creative methods of teaching, gives standards-based assessments, and offers numerous cultural activities beyond the classroom.

The French program hosts events during National French Week and inducts students into the National French Honor Society. The faculty shows excellent preparation and enthusiastic dedication to their work. Administrators, faculty, and students have all praised the program and its professor for their work and dedication to its ongoing success. Further, graduates have continued to use French and the skills they acquired in their careers, including teaching, business, and government.

The American Association of Teachers of French, founded in 1927, is the largest association of French teachers in the world, with close to 8,000 members. It offers enrichment and support to teachers and recognizes high achievement in teachers and students. Dr. Coker will travel to Boston this summer for the AATF National Convention in order to accept the award on behalf of the University and the program.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.