William Heflin
Dr. William Heflin earned his M.A. at Emory University and his Ph.D. from Florida State University. In 1985, he joined the University of Tennessee faculty. In his sixteen years at UT, Dr. Heflin touched the lives of countless students and colleagues at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as professor of Spanish, as department head of Romance Languages, as Language Program Director for many years and as one of the best colleagues anyone could have. He also collaborated actively with the College of Education's certification program, and many secondary-school Spanish teachers throughout the state were trained under his guidance. He received various teaching awards in recognition of his teaching excellence, his ultimate calling. He was an active member of SCOLT and TFLTA and was a member of the TFLTA Board for six years, receiving the Jacqueline Elliott Award in 1999. He retired in 2001, but his legacy remains rooted in the students, instructors, and language teachers whom he taught and colleagues with whom he worked in Tennessee. Dr. Heflin, in so many ways, was a ideal professional model. His passion and joy were always so infectious, for both students and instructors.
Michael Handelsman said it best when he wrote: “On the many occasions when I had the good fortune to work with Bill in the classroom, especially during our summer intensive Spanish courses at UT, the experience always reminded me of when I would go to the neighborhood playground to play ball with my friends. It was just plain fun! The most memorable lesson I learned from him as one of his colleagues, was that high expectations and thorough planning were not inconsistent with the enjoyment he always brought to the classroom. Indeed, teaching and learning alongside Bill was a constant reminder why all of us decided to devote ourselves to foreign language in the first place.”
Many of us could not resist being inspired by his example. Known for his good humor, his ready joke, and his positive outlook, Bill Heflin reached thousands of students, inspired many of his colleagues, and richly deserves recognition in the TFLTA Hall of Fame.
Michael Handelsman said it best when he wrote: “On the many occasions when I had the good fortune to work with Bill in the classroom, especially during our summer intensive Spanish courses at UT, the experience always reminded me of when I would go to the neighborhood playground to play ball with my friends. It was just plain fun! The most memorable lesson I learned from him as one of his colleagues, was that high expectations and thorough planning were not inconsistent with the enjoyment he always brought to the classroom. Indeed, teaching and learning alongside Bill was a constant reminder why all of us decided to devote ourselves to foreign language in the first place.”
Many of us could not resist being inspired by his example. Known for his good humor, his ready joke, and his positive outlook, Bill Heflin reached thousands of students, inspired many of his colleagues, and richly deserves recognition in the TFLTA Hall of Fame.