Souad Harmand & Dorothée Callens-Debavelaere - © UPHF
Two UPHF Members Named to the National Order of Merit
By decree of the President of the Republic dated May 15, 2026, two female faculty members and researchers at the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France were appointed to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Merit.
The National Order of Merit: An Exceptional Republican Honor
Established in 1963 by General de Gaulle, the National Order of Merit honors distinguished service to the Nation in both public and private sectors. As France’s second-highest national order, after the Legion of Honor, it reflects the State’s recognition of those who, through their enduring and exemplary commitment, have contributed to the prestige of French institutions.
In the field of higher education and research, this honor is awarded to individuals whose careers exemplify a combination of scientific excellence, pedagogical commitment, institutional leadership, and contributions to the collective good of the university.
It honors not only a career, but a calling.
Dorothée Callens-Debavelaere
29 Years Dedicated to Teaching and Research in Electrical Engineering
Dorothée Callens-Debavelaere’s career is inextricably linked to the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, where she has spent her entire career. After defending her Ph.D. in 1996 at the IEMN, she was hired there as an associate professor in 1997 and promoted to full professor in 2024.
Her research, conducted at the IEMN (UMR CNRS 8520), focuses on the applications of ultrasound to the characterization of biological, biomedical, and agri-food systems, using innovative methods for the non-destructive characterization of cells, biomaterials, biofilms, and industrial processes. As an instructor in wave physics, she has also held numerous teaching responsibilities, from the bachelor’s to the master’s level, creating and structuring several degree programs.
Deeply involved in university governance, she has served as Vice President for Student Success and Student Life at UPHF since 2016, where she leads initiatives promoting equal opportunity, mental health, and student engagement. Since 2024, she has also served as Deputy Director for Student Life at INSA Hauts-de-France.
Her appointment marks the culmination of twenty-nine years of service that have combined scientific rigor, student success, and a sense of community.
Dorothée Callens-Debavelaere - © UPHF
Dorothée Callens-DebavelaereMy driving force—and the only mission I’ve ever had—is to see my students succeed: each in their own way, in their projects, and in their lives. Because a student who feels supported—both in their projects and in the face of challenges—is a student who can go far. That is the mission I have set for myself, and the only recognition that has ever truly mattered to me.
Souad Harmand
35 years of an exceptional scientific and institutional career in energy
Souad Harmand’s career path is that of a distinguished scientist whose ties to the UVHC—now the UPHF—date back to 1990. After earning her engineering degree from the École des Mines de Douai in 1987, she defended her doctoral dissertation at UVHC three years later. Hired as an associate professor in 1992, she was promoted to full professor—a career trajectory that attests to her scientific excellence, recognized by her peers.
Her research, conducted at LAMIH UMR CNRS 8201, focuses on the thermal management of systems, particularly for electric vehicle motors—a field at the heart of contemporary energy transitions. Her scientific record is impressive: more than 300 publications, 6 patents filed, and more than 30 doctoral students supervised, thereby helping to train an entire generation of researchers.
Beyond her research, Souad Harmand has held key institutional leadership roles: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Life from 2012 to 2016, and, since 2016, Vice Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees.
Her career has combined, with equal mastery, the depth of a researcher and the vision of a university administrator over the course of thirty-five years of service.
Souad Harmand - © UPHF
Souad HarmandTraining young people, mentoring doctoral students in their research, and watching them grow into their roles and build their futures—that is the heart of my work, and my greatest source of satisfaction and joy. And then, gradually, my professional life has also revolved around this institution’s key initiatives—a challenge I’ve chosen to take on and a commitment that comes naturally, driven by the conviction that it is together that we move forward with ambition and determination.
What These Honors Say About the UPHF
The simultaneous appointment of Dorothée Callens-Debavelaere and Souad Harmand to the National Order of Merit is no happy coincidence: it reflects the institution’s culture. The UPHF is a university where careers can be fully realized, where investment in teaching is valued as much as publications, and where institutional responsibilities are carried out with seriousness and consistency.
These two career paths also embody a modern vision of the university: open to the technological challenges of our time, committed to its students’ success, rooted in its local communities while making an impact on a national and international scale.
Finally, they demonstrate the dynamism of an institution in motion, capable of nurturing and supporting talent over the long term. By recognizing these two women, the French Republic also honors, through them, the entire Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France.