NEWS

At its annual Benefactors Dinner, the Louisiana Tech University Foundation recognized School of Design Professor Nick Bustamante for excellence in teaching, research, and service to the campus community with the University Foundation Professorship Award.  

“Nick is no stranger to interdisciplinary work – partnerships that benefit our students, or University, and our community – and how collaboration can strengthen academic opportunities for our students’ future careers,” said Katie Samuels, Foundation Board President. “Through his work, he shows the power of public art to unite us all in our search for belonging and meaning.”

Bustamante is chair of the Studio Art program in the School of Design. He is also one of the founding professors in the VISTA (Visual Integration of Science Through Art) program, which offers minors in pre-medical illustration and scientific visualization.

A nationally recognized painter who has had 16 solo exhibitions and has been included in 38 group exhibitions, Bustamante’s medical illustrations have been published in textbooks and research journals such as the American Chemical Society. Within the last five years he has completed 12 large-scale murals throughout north Louisiana.

“We are all pleased to be able to recognize Nick for his exceptional contribution to our campus community,” said Brooks Hull, Vice President for University Advancement and CEO for the Foundation. “His work has served to unite and inspire us all, and his students have a rich experience in and out of the classroom.”

This recognition comes with a monetary award and a plaque.