Rewarding Faculty Research

The Provost’s Office oversees the University Faculty Scholars Program, which was established by Chancellor Randy Woodson in 2012. The program recognizes and rewards emerging academic leaders who turn research into solutions to society’s most pressing issues.

Each year, approximately twenty tenured or tenure-track faculty scholars are identified to receive this honor.  Faculty members selected as University Faculty Scholars carry the title for a five-year period and receive a $10,000 annual supplement that may be used for supplemental salary and benefits or programmatic support.

Selected Scholars

Since the University Faculty Scholars program began in 2012, 106 faculty have received this honor. Here’s the most recent class of scholars.

2016-17 University Faculty Scholars

• Margaret Blanchard, associate professor of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education
• Lorena Bociu, assistant professor of mathematics
• Kofi Boone, associate professor of landscape architecture
• Sarah Bowen, associate professor of sociology and anthropology
• Lisa Chapman, associate professor of textile and apparel, technology and management
• Chih-Hao Chang, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
• Ke Cheng, associate professor of molecular biomedical sciences
• Owen Duckworth, assistant professor of crop and soil sciences
• Ryan Emanuel, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources
• Troy Ghashghaei, associate professor of molecular biomedical sciences
• Zhen Gu, associate professor of biomedical engineering
• Douglas Irving, associate professor of materials science and engineering
• Audrey Jaeger, professor of educational leadership, policy and human development
• Xiaoning Jiang, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
• Steve McDonald, associate professor of sociology and anthropology
• Anne McLaughlin, associate professor of psychology
• Fay Cobb Payton, professor of information technology
• Joshua Pierce, assistant professor of chemistry
• Balaji Rao, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
• Chris Reberg-Horton, associate professor of crop and soil sciences
• Ana-Maria Staicu, associate professor of statistics
• Wenqiao Yuan, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering