Jane Robert, local St. Louisan, Webster University Alumna (B.A. French Language & Literature, 1969) and president of the Saint Louis-Lyon Sister Cities, Inc., was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur  (French Legion of Honor) by the French ambassador to the United States.  

As president of  Saint Louis-Lyon Sister Cities, Inc., Jane Robert is leading several educational and cultural exchanges with Lyon.  Having just completed her sixth year as national president of the Federation of Alliances Françaises, USA, Jane travels to France to meet regularly with supporters, elected officials, corporate sponsors and other partners regarding Sister City and Alliances Françaises programs. On April 27, 2007, the French Ambassador to the United States, S. Exc. Jean-David Levitte, informed Ms. Robert that she has been named Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (French Legion of Honor).

Other recent awards include: St. Louis City and St. Louis County proclaiming, “Jane Robert Day” on September 21 and October 26 respectively; the World Trade Center – Saint Louis presenting the “Global Ambassador Award” for increasing national and international visibility for St. Louis; and the Federation of Alliances Françaises, USA, awarding her le Prix Charbonnier for her contributions to the Alliances Françaises.

Robert received her Master’s degree in French Language and Literature from Missouri University at Columbia in 1973, her Diplôme de langue et de civilization from la Sorbonne in 1968 and her BA in French Language and Literature from Webster University in 1969.  Her career path has included teaching French at the University of Missouri University at Columbia, Parkway West Senior High School in Ballwin,  Saint Louis University in St. Louis  and a volunteer at St. Gerard Catholic Elementary School in Kirkwood. In 1998, the French government recognized Jane’s contributions to France and the French language education by awarding her a Knighthood as Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

Jane’s newest projects include education and understanding.  The first, “Waging Peace in Our Communities,” began with a US State Department grant. The goal is for eight Sister  Cities, including St. Louis and Lyon, to share solutions on successfully integrating disadvantaged and immigrant populations into their communities.  The second is participation in the founding of St. Louis Language Immersion School, beginning with French and German languages targeting its opening for Fall, 2009.

To arrange an interview with Ms. Robert, contact Christine Wells, media relations coordinator, at 314-565-5745, 314-968-5976 or eason@webster.edu.

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