Dr. Mel B. Yoken a University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Chancellor Professor Emeritus was awarded the highest French honor on May 21 on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Yoken received the French Legion of Honor award from the Consul General of France Valery Freland for his work on studying the French language and literature. The French Legion Honor award was created by Napoleon in 1802 and is given to people who have made an impact on French culture.

Yoken worked at UMass Dartmouth for 52 year before retiring. He now tutors students in the language and is the director of the Bovian Center of French Language and Literature. He is also the program chair of the Claire T. Carney Library Associates.