Editor’s Note: The information for this story was written and provided by the Office of University Development and compiled by Genevieve Monsma of The University Record.
Thirty-five University of Michigan faculty members are receiving awards this fall in recognition of their notable contributions in the areas of teaching, mentoring, service and scholarship. They will be honored at a Faculty Awards Celebration on Oct. 30.
Distinguished University Professorships
The Board of Regents created the Distinguished University Professorships in 1947 to recognize senior faculty for exceptional scholarly or creative achievement, national and international reputation, and superior records of teaching, mentoring, and service. Faculty selected for the recognition, in consultation with the dean of the school or college in which they hold an appointment, name the professorship after a person of distinction in their field of interest. The duration of the appointment is unlimited. Newly appointed Distinguished University Professors are expected to deliver an inaugural lecture during the first year of appointment. The recipients are:
Juan R. Cole
Richard P. Mitchell Distinguished University Professor of History; Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History, LSA
Juan R. Cole has transformed global understandings of the Middle East and South Asia, advancing the field through a remarkable synthesis of scholarly rigor and public engagement, epitomizing what it means to be a scholar and public intellectual. Cole’s vast body of research, traversing different times, political boundaries and multiple languages, attests to his virtuosity, as does the quantity and impact of his writing. With 21 published books, more than 110 chapters and articles, and a public-facing blog, “Informed Comment,” Cole brings historical insight to millions annually and has shaped policy conversations at the highest levels. He has directed multiple international studies centers at U-M and mentored generations of graduate students across disciplines. He has been recognized with lectureships and awards at Qatar’s national university, Northwestern University, the University of Washington, Lingnan University in Hong Kong, the American University of Cairo, and the Library of Congress.
Christian Davenport
Charles Tilly Distinguished University Professor of Political Science; Mary Ann and Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Professor for the Study of Human Understanding, and professor of political science, LSA; professor of public policy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; and faculty associate, Center for Political Studies, Institute for Social Research
Christian Davenport has redefined the study of political conflict, repression and human rights, advancing nuanced and rigorous approaches that have transformed several fields within the social sciences. Since joining U-M’s faculty in 2012, he has produced a prolific body of research examining the dynamics of state power, dissent and the interplay between institutions and collective action. His scholarship spans topics including genocide, protest policing, racialized repression and the life cycles of government coercion, shaping inquiry at the micro, national and global levels. His work has been cited 12,000 times, the bulk of these citations coming from his work on state repression, human rights violations, the Black Panther Party, the policing of protest movements in the U.S. and contentious politics. He has published five influential books, and he received the 2020 Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Prize for Democracy from the International Women’s Network for Democracy and Peace. A dedicated educator and mentor, Davenport has built vibrant communities of learning, notably through the Conflict, Peace, Research, and Development Group, and NSF-supported initiatives to diversify the field.
Kathryn M. Dominguez
Marina von Neumann Whitman Distinguished University Professor of Public Policy; associate dean for academic affairs, and professor of public policy, Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy; and professor of economics, LSA
Kathryn M. Dominguez is an internationally recognized economist whose ideas and scholarship have shaped U.S. and international monetary policy, particularly the understanding of connections between financial markets, macroeconomic policy and exchange rate dynamics. She joined U-M’s faculty in 1997 and is a longtime research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Lauded by scholars and policymakers alike, she is celebrated for her seminal theory of sterilized exchange rate interventions — a framework that remains central to research and policy around the world. In 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Dominguez for a seat on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Her service includes roles with the Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Economic Advisors, the Advisory Scientific Committee of the European Systemic Risk Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Economic Advisory Panel, among other distinguished appointments. At U-M, she has served twice as both the Ford School’s associate dean for academic affairs and director of the Ford School’s joint doctoral program. She is currently the director of the honors program in economics.
John Jonides
Edward E. Smith Distinguished University Professor of Psychology; Edward E. Smith Collegiate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, and professor of psychology, LSA; acting co-director, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility, and professor of radiology, Medical School
John Jonides is a widely respected, highly accomplished cognitive neuroscientist whose innovations have made U-M a global leader in the study of human cognition. Jonides joined U-M’s faculty in 1975, and he is considered an early pioneer in using brain imaging to reveal the structure of executive functions, identifying the distinct neural circuits that support the storage and manipulation of information and showing how these mechanisms contribute to cognitive aging, depression and ADHD. Jonides co-founded U-M’s Functional MRI Laboratory; launched the influential Summer Neuroimaging Training course; and, as associate dean, designed and implemented the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program — a national model that expands access for underrepresented students. Jonides’ groundbreaking work on executive functions has garnered more than 80,000 citations, and he has been recognized with the William James Fellow Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Association for Psychological Science and the Fred Kavli Award for Distinguished Contributions from the Cognitive Neuroscience Society.
Kenneth M. Langa
A. Regula Herzog Distinguished University Professor of Internal Medicine and Survey Research; Cyrus Sturgis Research Professor of Internal Medicine, professor of internal medicine, and research professor, Institute of Gerontology, Medical School; research professor, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research; and professor of health management and policy, School of Public Health
Kenneth M. Langa is a world-renowned scholar, physician, educator and leader whose pioneering research has shaped the understanding of aging, cognitive impairment and dementia in the U.S. and around the world, examining disparities by race, education, wealth and global context. Langa came to U-M in 1994 for an internal medicine internship and residency and joined the faculty in 1999, teaching internal medicine residents while also providing outpatient primary care at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. As associate director and now co-director of the National Institutes of Health-funded Health and Retirement Study, the largest and most influential study of aging in the U.S., Langa has helped secure its $195 million renewal, the largest grant in U-M history. His leadership has helped to expand the HRS model globally to more than 35 countries. He has published over 375 peer-reviewed articles and brought more than $215 million in NIH funding to Michigan. His many honors include election to the National Academy of Medicine and awards for outstanding mentorship.
Anna G. Stefanopoulou
Huei Peng Distinguished University Professor of Mechanical Engineering; William Clay Ford Professor of Technology, and professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering
Anna Stefanopoulou is an internationally renowned innovator in powertrain and energy systems control. Her pioneering application of control and estimation theory to internal combustion engines, batteries and fuel cells has influenced modern mobility, from cleaner combustion engines to advanced electric vehicles. She joined U-M’s faculty in 2000, founded the world’s first academic research group in fuel cell and battery control, led breakthrough work that created digital twins of advanced propulsion systems, and developed robust sensing and calibration algorithms critical to electrified powertrains. Her scholarship, patented inventions and industry collaborations have informed U.S. and international policy, including work with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy and the United Nations. As a mentor to more than 50 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and hundreds of students each year, Stefanopoulou has built U-M into a global epicenter for powertrain education and research. She is an elected fellow of IEEE, ASME and SAE, and a recipient of major international awards for innovation and education.
Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards
The Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards honor senior faculty who have consistently demonstrated outstanding achievements in scholarly research or creative endeavors, teaching and mentoring of students and junior colleagues, service and other activities. The recipients are:
David Blaauw
Kensall D. Wise Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering
David Blaauw stands at the forefront of integrated circuit, or IC, design, internationally acclaimed for his relentless innovation and transformative impact in ultra-low-power electronics and microsystems. His work has fueled advancements across biomedical devices, global environmental monitoring and machine learning, changing how electronics interact with and illuminate the world around us. After leading advances at Motorola’s High Performance Design Technology group, he joined U-M’s faculty in 2001. Blaauw Lab is the birthplace of breakthroughs such as the Michigan Micro Mote, or M^3, the world’s smallest computer. He originated Razor, a technique enabling adaptive IC operation for unprecedented energy efficiency, and introduced innovations in statistical IC analysis and machine learning accelerators. With over 70 U.S. patents and more than 47,000 citations, his research is widely recognized for both depth and real-world impact. In 2016, he won the Semiconductor Industry Association University Research Award, which recognizes lifetime research contributions to the U.S. semiconductor industry, and in 2019, he was a co-recipient of the Distinguished University Innovator Award.
Nancy Burns
Warren E. Miller Collegiate Professor of Political Science, LSA; and research professor, Center for Political Studies, Institute for Social Research
Nancy Burns has made an indelible impact on U-M, the discipline of political science, and the broader academic community over more than three decades of service as a scholar, educator, mentor and leader. She joined U-M’s faculty in 1991 and has held several pivotal leadership roles, including director of the Center for Political Studies and department chair (2014-24), where she skillfully guided the department through a period of political polarization, the COVID-19 pandemic, and generational transition. She also served as co-principal investigator of the American National Election Studies, the world’s longest-running survey on elections and a model for international research. Her acclaimed work on gender, political participation and American institutions has not only garnered national honors but also international recognition, further solidifying her as a leading figure in her field. Just as notable are her talents as a mentor, having guided more than 60 doctoral students and fostered a spirit of excellence, inclusion and camaraderie among colleagues and learners alike.
Gary Freed
Percy J. Murphy M. D. and Marcy C. Murphy R. N. Professor of Pediatrics for Child Health Delivery, professor of pediatrics, and professor of health management and policy, School of Public Health
Gary Freed has built a career dedicated to improving children’s health and has had an impact on child health policy and health delivery at the state, national and international levels. He joined U-M in 1998, where he established the Children’s Health Evaluation and Research, or CHEAR, Center — the first pediatric health services research center in the country — and was named director of the Division of General Pediatrics. Freed also built the first NIH-funded pediatric HSR fellowship training program, thus training many of the first pediatric subspecialists in the nation in this field. Among his many contributions, he led pioneering efforts in vaccine policy, health workforce policy, and child health equity, including founding the Program for Equity in Adolescent and Child Health, or PEACH, and the Michigan Child Health Equity Collaborative, or Mi-CHEC. Freed received distinguished alumni awards from two of his alma maters and three lifetime achievement awards for his life-changing work. He has served as a leader of national professional organizations, including serving as president of the Society for Pediatric Research.
Andrew John Marshall
Professor of anthropology, of ecology, and of evolutionary biology, LSA; professor of environment and sustainability, School for Environment and Sustainability; and professor of program in environment, LSA and SEAS
Andrew John Marshall is internationally known for his pioneering research in primate evolutionary ecology, population biology and tropical forest conservation. His scholarship has redefined the understanding of conserving endangered tropical taxa and ecosystems. He has published over 120 articles and book chapters and authored the definitive classroom text, “An Introduction to Primate Conservation.” Marshall’s three decades of fieldwork throughout Indonesia have shaped conservation policies, including leading the reclassification of Bornean orangutans as critically endangered. His research is widely cited, advancing both theoretical understanding and on-the-ground practice, from new approaches to conservation policy to clarifying the impacts of climate change on wildlife. Additionally, he has spent over 20 years training local scientists, NGOs and park staff, and was formally recognized by Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry for these contributions and asked him to develop training materials for the country’s 8,000+ forest rangers. Stateside, he’s advised the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Nature Conservancy, and Flora-Fauna International. Marshall has advised the U.S. State Department, USAID, The Nature Conservancy, and Flora-Fauna International.
Jeremy MG Taylor
Pharmacia Research Professor of Biostatistics, professor of biostatistics, School of Public Health; professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics, and of radiation oncology, Medical School
Jeremy MG Taylor is a world-class biostatistics researcher who has significantly enhanced the national reputation of his department and U-M. He joined U-M’s faculty in 1998 and immersed himself in cancer research. He was a trailblazer in developing cure rate modeling, a method particularly useful in understanding the long-term impact of cancer therapeutic approaches. More recently, he has collaborated with other faculty members to develop methods for integrating data from diverse sources. Taylor has won several of the most prestigious accolades, including the Mortimer Spiegelman Award for best biostatistician under age 40; the National Institute of Statistical Sciences Jerome Sacks Award for Cross-Disciplinary Research; and the Samuel Wilks Memorial Award from the American Statistical Association. Taylor is the only biostatistician to have ever received the Michael Fry Radiation Research Award. He’s published more than 400 papers, resulting in over 40,000 citations, has served as chair of NIH’s most highly regarded biostatistics study section, and was the editor of the “Biometrics” journal.
Faculty Recognition Awards
The Faculty Recognition Awards are intended for mid-career faculty members who have demonstrated remarkable contributions to the university through achievements in scholarly research or creative endeavors; excellence as a teacher, adviser and mentor; and distinguished participation in service activities of the university and elsewhere. Eligible candidates include full professors with no more than four years in rank, and tenured associate professors. The recipients are:
Deanna H. Gates
Professor of kinesiology, School of Kinesiology; professor of biomedical engineering, College of Engineering and Medical School; and professor of robotics, CoE
Deanna H. Gates is internationally recognized for her pioneering research at the intersection of biomechanics, engineering and rehabilitation science, which is transforming the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation engineering. She joined U-M’s faculty in 2012. Gates’ interdisciplinary work — which combines biomechanics, engineering, rehabilitation science, and clinical practice — aims to understand the factors that contribute to the effective use of assistive devices, particularly upper and lower limb prostheses, and to develop training strategies to optimize their use. She’s published 81 peer-reviewed articles, as first or senior author on 70%of them, and she’s secured nearly $20 million in funding from sources such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Defense. Her groundbreaking projects include developing regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces to enhance prosthetic control and sensation, as well as setting new standards with her comparative studies of body-powered and myoelectric prostheses.
Ashley Lucas
Professor of theatre and drama, School of Music, Theatre & Dance; professor in the Residential College, professor of English language and literature, LSA; and professor of art and design, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
Ashley Lucas is a scholar, artist, educator and advocate for the transformative potential of theatre, particularly at the intersection of performance, incarceration and social justice. She joined the U-M faculty in 2013 as professor and director of the Prison Creative Arts Project, where she pioneered initiatives that brought transformative arts programming to carceral spaces. Her book, “Prison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration” (2020), examines how theater offers dignity and a creative outlet amidst the dehumanizing forces of incarceration and has been translated and published internationally. Additionally, she has worked closely with the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, providing incarcerated artists with a platform to showcase and sell their work, and developed community-engaged learning opportunities — including workshops in Michigan prisons where U-M students engage with incarcerated participants in creative writing, visual art and performance. She has been honored with the U-M Regents’ Award for Distinguished Public Service and multiple awards that celebrate her scholarship, creative work and advocacy.
Megan Sweeney
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; professor of English language and literature, professor of Afroamerican and African studies, professor of women’s and gender studies and chair, Department of English Language and Literature, LSA
Megan Sweeney is a distinguished literary scholar, known for methodologically innovative research that draws from African American literary and cultural studies, feminist theory, material cultural studies and auto theory. She joined the U-M faculty in 2004. Her acclaimed first monograph, “Reading Is My Window: Books and the Art of Reading in Women’s Prisons” (2010), was a groundbreaking exploration of cultures of reading in penal contexts. Her second monograph, “Mendings” (2023), centers clothing and textiles in reflecting on possibilities for mending interpersonal, historical and environmental forms of brokenness and loss. Sweeney has received prestigious fellowships from the Ford Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation and the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard. For 15 years, she has served as an executive officer in one or more of her three departments, contributed to significant curricular and program initiatives, and developed a reputation as an exemplary mentor, teacher and colleague. Her colleagues affirm her tireless devotion to building and improving communities across the university.
Krista R. Wigginton
Professor of civil and environmental engineering and associate dean for graduate and professional education, College of Engineering
Krista R. Wigginton is internationally recognized for her pioneering research in water safety, with a focus on the detection, removal and fate of viral pathogens in the environment. She joined the U-M faculty in 2013, and through her interdisciplinary approach — combining knowledge from chemistry, microbiology, virology, data science and public health — she and her team have developed several applications of real-world significance. Her groundbreaking projects include developing advanced viral detection methods using mass spectrometry, metagenomic sequencing and novel filtration approaches. Wigginton’s work has secured funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Water Research Foundation. She is the recipient of the prestigious Paul L. Busch Award, recognizing her innovation in advancing the science of water safety. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the crucial real-world value of her research came to the forefront, as she addressed important questions about decontamination, wastewater surveillance, and wastewater and water reuse. Her expertise was instrumental in the national and global response to the pandemic, as her research informed public health policies and interventions.
Laura B. Zahodne
Professor of psychology, LSA; and faculty associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Laura B. Zahodne is a world-renowned clinical neuropsychologist who has greatly advanced understanding of how psychosocial experiences, both positive and negative, affect late-life cognitive health and the development of neurodegenerative disease. Her groundbreaking research has significantly influenced the field of psychology. In 2016, she joined U-M’s faculty and founded the Neuropsychology and Cognitive Aging Lab. Notably, Zahodne was the first researcher to show the role traumatic everyday events related to discrimination, learned helplessness, and subclinical depressive symptoms play in cognitive aging. She has also clarified the link between education and income and dementia, and the way frequent contact with friends/peers positively affects cognitive aging. In 2021, Zahodne won the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology award. That same year, she won the Gerontological Society of America’s Margaret M. and Paul B. Baltes Award for “outstanding early career contributions in behavioral and social gerontology” and the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology’s Robert A. and Phyllis Levitt Early Career Award in Neuropsychology.
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professorship
The University Diversity and Social Transformation Professorships, which were launched in 2019, honor senior faculty whose work has shaped the broader societal discourse around inclusion and equity. Recipients hold their initial appointment for five years. They also receive special faculty fellow status at the National Center for Institutional Diversity and spend at least one semester as a faculty fellow-in-residence. The recipients are:
Patrick Grzanka
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor; and professor of women’s and gender studies, LSA
Patrick Grzanka’s work asks tough questions about systems often taken for granted. An applied feminist psychologist and social issues researcher, he studies how institutions like science, education and health care are capable of reinforcing inequality. Drawing on both quantitative data and narratives, his research explores how race, gender and sexuality shape people’s everyday experiences and opportunities. Grzanka is known for bringing clarity and urgency to complex social debates, including how beliefs about social categories and scientific knowledge are deployed in social movements. Grzanka joined U-M’s faculty after 11 years at the University of Tennessee, where he was professor of psychology and the inaugural divisional dean for social sciences at the flagship campus in Knoxville. He is the author of “Intersectionality: Foundations and Frontiers,” as well as the forthcoming book, “The ‘Born This Way’ Wars: Sexuality, Science, and the Future of Equality.” His contributions have been recognized with honors including the 2023 George A. Miller Award and the 2023 Distinguished Contribution to Public Policy Award from the American Psychological Association. He is a former president of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (2023-24) and incoming co-editor of the “Journal of Social Issues.”
Devon Payne-Sturges
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor; and professor of environmental health sciences, School of Public Health
Payne-Sturges
Devon Payne-Sturges is an esteemed scholar whose work has not only expanded our understanding of environmental justice but also significantly impacted the field. Her research on the cumulative risk from multiple chemical and social stressors, and her pioneering quantitative frameworks and systems science approaches, have been instrumental in addressing disparities at the intersection of environmental health, race and equity. Before joining Michigan’s faculty, Payne-Sturges was an associate professor at the University of Maryland and spent 20 years as a public health scientist, including leadership at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There, she developed the influential Environmental Health Disparities framework, created the first outreach materials on children’s environmental health disparities, and authored guidance on racial, ethnic and social class disparities for federal risk assessment. In 2017, Payne-Sturges received the Fulbright Specialist Award to advise Germany on environmental justice research. In 2023, after leading a landmark analysis of 50 years of literature on disparities in children’s exposure to neurotoxic chemicals, she co-authored a paper that drew significant media attention and 4,000 downloads.
Research Faculty Achievement Award
The Research Faculty Achievement Award honors people who hold at least a 60% appointment at the rank of research associate professor, research scientist or associate research scientist. Selection criteria include exceptional scholarly achievements, as evidenced by significant contributions to an academic field of study over time, a specific outstanding discovery or the development of innovative technology or practice. The recipients are:
Jackie Goodrich
Research associate professor, environmental health sciences, School of Public Health
Jackie Goodrich is one of the world’s preeminent environmental epigenetics researchers, known for her integration of toxicology, epidemiology and epigenetics. Her transdisciplinary approach has led to important discoveries about how chemical exposures alter DNA methylation and contribute to long-term disease susceptibility. She became a research assistant professor at U-M in 2016. Goodrich’s pioneering research aims to decipher the complex relationships between environmental exposures, such as PFAS, heavy metals, and phthalates and human health, with an emphasis on children, women and occupational groups, including firefighters. By combining molecular-level analysis with large-scale epidemiological studies, she has uncovered novel mechanisms through which environmental exposures influence disease risk. Notably, her FEMA-funded investigation following the East Palestine train derailment provided critical insights into the health risks faced by firefighters responding to hazardous events, while other studies have explored how maternal exposures can affect offspring health. These studies not only provide crucial information about exposure effects but also help pave the way to developing mitigation strategies that could allow people to live and work more safely.
Igor Sokolov
Research scientist, climate and space sciences and engineering, College of Engineering
Igor Sokolov is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in space plasma physics and space weather modeling. His work has transformed our understanding of the fundamental processes driving solar wind acceleration, energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections. Over the course of his more than 20 years at U-M, he’s authored or co-authored 144 peer-reviewed papers; his work has been cited more than 10,000 times; and he’s been awarded 32 grants and contracts. Sokolov developed the Alfvén Wave turbulence-based Solar-atmosphere Model and the threaded-field-line model, breakthroughs that are now central to NASA, NOAA, and space science communities worldwide. These models enable scientists to simulate solar phenomena with unprecedented speed and accuracy, supporting both fundamental discovery and real-time space weather forecasting. In addition to his research achievements, Sokolov is a dedicated mentor known for fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment. He has guided and inspired students and postdocs from diverse backgrounds, contributed to the development of new courses for space scientists, and supported equity and inclusion in geosciences.
Ashu Tripathi
Associate research scientist, Life Sciences Institute; and research associate professor, College of Pharmacy
Ashu Tripathi is an internationally recognized scientific leader in natural products chemistry, celebrated for his innovative approaches to automated natural product discovery and his steadfast commitment to collaborative, team-based science. Tripathi first came to U-M as a research fellow (2012-16) before being named research assistant professor of medicinal chemistry in 2017. In 2019, he co-founded and became director of the university-wide Natural Products Discovery Core at the Life Sciences Institute. Under his leadership, NPDC has rapidly become a campus and industry engine, supporting dozens of collaborators, catalyzing multi-institutional projects and producing over 25 publications, four patents and the licensing of an NPDC-developed asset with 5Metis, a leading AgTech company. This underscores the entrepreneurial reach of his vision. By integrating high-resolution mass spectrometry, genome-guided biosynthetic engineering, and AI-driven analytics, Tripathi’s work expands accessible natural-product chemical space and translates it into therapeutic, agricultural and industrial advancements.
Research Faculty Mentor Award
The Research Faculty Mentor Award honors people who hold at least a 60% appointment at the rank of research professor or research scientist, research associate professor or associate research scientist. Selection criteria include demonstrated excellence in mentoring research faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and/or undergraduate students, as well as evidence of fostering academic growth and career development and creating an inclusive and supportive environment for mentees of all backgrounds. The recipients are:
Jessica Anand
Research assistant professor, pharmacology, Medical School
Jessica Anand is a respected mentor and research leader whose dedication has shaped the academic journeys of dozens of emerging scientists and healthcare professionals. As an authority on fentanyl analogues and opioid pharmacology, Anand is recognized not just for her research contributions but for the inclusive, nurturing environment she creates for students and trainees. She became a research investigator in 2017 at U-M and a research assistant professor in 2021. Throughout her career, she has guided nearly 35 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program students, mentored master’s and honors students, and co-chaired doctoral committees. Her mentees have gone on to Ph.D. and medical school programs, winning prizes and succeeding in competitive academic and industry roles. Known for fostering a family-like atmosphere, Anand tailors her guidance to help students thrive, whether through hands-on training, graduate application support, or celebrating personal and scientific milestones. Her exceptional mentorship has been recognized with Outstanding Mentor Awards from UROP, the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion’s Making a Difference Award, and the Sister Mary Ambrosia DEI Mentoring Award.
Matthew Schipper
Program director, radiation oncology, research professor, radiation oncology, Medical School; research professor, biostatistics, and adjunct lecturer in epidemiology, School of Public Health
Matthew Schipper is an esteemed researcher in radiation oncology and biostatistics, widely admired for the breadth of his scholarship and the profound impact of his mentorship. His exceptional commitment to guiding students, residents and junior faculty has cultivated academic excellence and fostered a supportive, inclusive research community, inspiring hope for the future of research. Early in his career, Schipper recognized the critical role of data science in modern oncology research and sought funding to give biostatistics graduate students the opportunity to work on radiation oncology research projects, building what is now the Division of Biostatistics. This diverse and collaborative group has become a model for interdisciplinary collaboration in recognizing the critical role of data science in modern oncology research. In recent years (2019-24), his mentees have served as first or co-authors on 44 peer-reviewed papers and received national recognition for their work. Schipper’s mentees describe him as a tireless advocate and an inspiring leader — credited with nurturing talent, instilling independence, and helping translate research and critical thinking into their practice. Many have gone on to faculty appointments and leadership roles in academia and industry, a testament to the enduring influence of his mentorship.
Research Faculty Recognition Award
The Research Faculty Recognition Award honors people who hold at least a 60% appointment at the rank of research assistant professor or assistant research scientist. Selection criteria include exceptional scholarly achievements, as evidenced by publications or other scholarly activities in any academic field of study. The recipients are:
Grace Noppert
Research assistant professor, Survey Research Center, and faculty associate, Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research
Grace Noppert is a rising star in the field of epidemiology who studies how social environments shape biological processes. Specifically, she studies how social processes across one’s life span, including structural forces of disadvantage and racism, lead to exposure to infections that deplete health and accelerate aging. She joined U-M’s faculty in 2020 and co-directs the Biosocial Research Collaborative and the Social and Environmental Equity in Infectious Disease Lab, where she mentors the next generation of scholars, with an emphasis on supporting those from underrepresented backgrounds. She has received significant funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging and is the author of 52 peer-reviewed publications in respected journals. Her interdisciplinary research, blending biology, sociology, and epidemiology, has advanced the study of immunology and population health by linking biological markers with the power of population-based studies. Her insights hold promise for early interventions to improve health outcomes in aging populations.
Nishil Talati
Assistant research scientist, electrical engineering and computer science, College of Engineering
Nishil Talati is a leading innovator in computing systems research, drawing knowledge from both computer architecture and software systems to co-design hardware and software to enhance the performance, scalability and energy efficiency of AI and data analytics applications. Talati’s research spans workload scheduling, memory optimization, graph analytics and domain-specific accelerators, with a particular focus on high-performance and secure AI systems. His pioneering work on novel multi-GPU programming, algorithm-systems co-design for generative AI workloads, and hardware-software co-design for graph analytics has redefined memory management and scheduling in multi-GPU systems, leading to significant collaborations and technology transfer with AMD, Intel and Microsoft. His scholarly impact is recognized by best paper awards at major conferences and real-world adoption, including contributions to AMD’s CPU microarchitecture. Talati’s interdisciplinary mindset enables him to merge device physics, hardware architecture and software optimization, leading to innovative methodologies with broad applications in high-performance and energy-efficient computing. However, Talati is also committed to advancing computing systems that not only push the boundaries of performance but also promote sustainability, accessibility and equity.
Lanbo Xiao
Research investigator, pathology, Medical School
Lanbo Xiao, through his groundbreaking research in chromatin remodeling, epigenetics and transcriptional regulation, is helping to shape the future of cancer therapies while also bridging the gap between cutting-edge medical discoveries and patient-centered care. His pioneering studies on mSWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes and enhancer-mediated transcriptional addiction have led to the discovery of novel cancer vulnerabilities with direct implications for clinical translation. After arriving at U-M as a postdoctoral fellow in 2014, he was appointed research assistant professor in the Center for Translational Pathology in 2022, the same year he received the Young Investigator Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation. His research, which reveals new therapeutic vulnerabilities in enhancer-addicted cancers, has already informed treatment strategies. In addition, Xiao led the development of a saliva-based COVID-19 test deployed across the university’s campus during the pandemic, as well as the urine-based MyProstate Score 2.0 test, both of which have advanced public health and cancer diagnostics. Xiao has received funding from PCF, NIH, and the Department of Defense, and he now serves as co-principal investigator on a $5 million Trailsend Foundation grant to advance chromatin remodeling-targeted therapeutics for human cancers.
Collegiate Research Professorship Award
The Collegiate Research Professorship Award honors exceptional scholarly achievement and impact on advancing knowledge in science, engineering, health, education, the arts, the humanities or other academic field of study. Research professors with at least a 60% appointment are eligible. The recipients are:
Inbal Billie Nahum-Shani
Collegiate research professor, Office of the Vice President for Research; and research professor, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Nahum-Shani
Inbal Billie Nahum-Shani is at the forefront of transforming healthcare by pioneering adaptive interventions that seamlessly integrate digital tools and human-delivered support. Her innovative work bridges clinical and non-clinical settings, helping patients through timely, personalized assistance delivered by both technology and skilled professionals. She first came to U-M as an Institute for Social Research fellow (2010), then a research assistant professor (2013). As the co-founder and director of ISR’s Data-Science for Dynamic Decision-Making Center, ord3c, she’s guided the design of more than 50 studies focused on developing adaptive interventions across various health domains, including mental health, oral health, weight loss, alcohol use, physical activity, type 1 diabetes and more. In addition, she has co-authored 125 publications and delivered over 100 training sessions and workshops for scientists from various fields interested in adaptive interventions. Her groundbreaking hybrid experimental design methodology now underpins more than 10 funded studies, with colleagues naming her among the very best methodologists worldwide.
Megan E. Patrick
Collegiate research professor, Office of the Vice President for Research; and research professor, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Megan E. Patrick is an influential researcher whose pioneering work has transformed understanding of substance use patterns, underlying motivations, and the development of preventative strategies for health risk behaviors. She joined U-M as a postdoctoral fellow at the Survey Research Center in 2008. In 2012, Patrick became co-investigator for one of the Institute for Social Research’s flagship studies, Monitoring the Future Panel study, which for 50 years has tracked attitudes and behaviors toward drugs and alcohol of U.S. adolescents followed into adulthood. In 2022, she became principal investigator of the study. In addition, she has authored/co-authored more than 290 peer-reviewed papers; she has secured over $15 million in National Institutes of Health funding as principal investigator on more than 10 projects; and her innovative contributions extend to public discourse on substance use, particularly surrounding high-intensity drinking. She has also developed new methods to address health risks related to substance use, including a web-based, pre-spring break intervention that employs tailored messages to reduce negative consequences from alcohol use and risky sexual behavior.
Regents’ Award for Distinguished Public Service
The Regents’ Award for Distinguished Public Service honors people who have made contributions to public service activities that relate closely to teaching and research and reflect professional and academic expertise. The service activities may occur outside the university in local, state, national or international arenas. The recipients are:
Lilia Cortina
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor; professor of psychology, and of women’s and gender studies, LSA; and professor of management and organizations, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
Lilia Cortina is a nationally recognized and award-winning expert on sexual harassment and hostile work environments, whose scholarship has transformed our understanding of workplace equity. Through pioneering research, influential legal testimony as an expert witness, and the creation of practical tools and strategies, Cortina has empowered institutions and individuals to build more just and inclusive work cultures. She joined U-M’s faculty in 2000. In 2021, she was named a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies, and currently, she chairs the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies. In 2018, Cortina co-authored a landmark National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study focused on sexual harassment of women in STEM fields, which has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times and cited in five proposed pieces of legislation and hearings. Her research has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, TIME Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. On campus, Cortina has led initiatives as associate director of ADVANCE, working to foster respect and inclusion in academic spaces.
Stephen Ward
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; associate professor of Afroamerican and African studies, director academic program, Semester in Detroit Program in the Residential College, associate professor in the Residential College, and associate director of faculty, LSA
Stephen Ward is a distinguished scholar, teacher and community leader whose commitment to public service has shaped U-M and Detroit for more than two decades. An authority on Black radical history, urban transformation and social justice, Ward has devoted his career to bridging university and community, cultivating spaces of inclusion, understanding and engaged learning. Since joining U-M in 2002, he has served as faculty director of Semester in Detroit, associate director of the Residential College, and associate chair of Afroamerican and African Studies. Through Semester in Detroit, Ward has mentored countless students as they partner with Detroit organizations, demonstrating that academic and community rigor are inseparable. His scholarship and activism have elevated the legacy of James and Grace Lee Boggs, including leadership in digitizing the Boggs Center archives. Ward’s public service is further evident in his roles with key university initiatives, as well as in everyday advocacy for students, staff and colleagues from all backgrounds. Colleagues describe him as a model of empathy, clarity and principled leadership in even the most challenging circumstances.
University Press Book Award
The University Press Book Award is presented to members of the university teaching and research staff, including emeritus members, whose books have added the greatest distinction to the Press List. Selections are made from books published within a span of two calendar years. The recipient is:
Rashmi Luthra
Professor emerita of communications and composition, Department of Language, Culture and Communication, College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, UM-Dearborn
Rashmi Luthra is this year’s University Press Book Award honoree for her book, “Destination Detroit: Discourses on the Refugee in a Post-Industrial City.” Luthra’s book offers a trenchant, deeply informed analysis of how discourses about refugees in Detroit are created at the crossroads of the broader pressures and negotiations shaping contemporary America. Her tenure at UM-Dearborn, from assistant professor in 1991 to full professor in 2005, was marked by significant contributions. She chaired the Department of Language, Culture, and Communication, established the communications major and directed the women’s studies program. Her book, rooted in her experience as a descendant of refugees, has been accessed more than 1,300 times in 63 countries and garnered national acclaim for its penetrating exploration of xenophobia, Orientalism, and spaces for allyship, including art. Her work has been published in the “Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication,” “International Journal of Communication, Women’s Studies in Communication,” and “Communication, Culture and Critique,” and several other prestigious journals and edited collections.
University Librarian Achievement Award
The University Librarian Achievement Award recognizes exceptional distinction reflected in active and innovative career achievements in library, archival or curatorial services. The recipient is:
Karen E. Downing
Librarian, education liaison, University Library
Karen E. Downing is a distinguished academic librarian whose 30-year career at U-M is marked by transformative service, scholarship and leadership. Renowned for her expertise in education and qualitative research, she has fostered collaborations across campus and with scholars nationwide. Downing has held pivotal roles, including coordinating the Peer Information Counseling program, providing executive research services, leading the library’s social sciences team, and serving as education librarian and liaison to the Marsal Family School of Education. Her outreach has led to national presentations, highly cited publications, and grant-funded initiatives, including the DEIA Data Toolkit and Library as Research Lab, each amplifying the library’s capacity for research support and inclusion. Many of her mentees have become librarians themselves, following Downing’s sterling example and adding links to a virtuous chain. A leader in professional organizations such as the American Library Association and the International Federation of Library Associations, Downing has long championed social justice and intellectual freedom, helping shape the profession’s values and future. She is equally admired as a mentor, guiding undergraduate and graduate students, new librarians, and colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds.
University Librarian Recognition Award
The University Librarian Recognition Award recognizes active and innovative early career achievement in library, archival or curatorial services. They are presented to librarians, archivists or curators who have no more than eight years’ practice in their profession. The recipient is:
Maggie Vanderford
Librarian for instruction and engagement, William L. Clements Library
Maggie Vanderford, the inaugural librarian for instruction and engagement at the William L. Clements Library, has transformed the Clements into a vibrant center for undergraduate and graduate learning. Her leadership has forged lasting connections between the library’s exceptional collections and the U-M academic community, leaving an indelible mark on the institution. Vanderford joined the Clements Library in 2021, and through vision and dedication, built a robust and inclusive formal instructional program from the ground up. She has established new partnerships with nearly 20 departments, tripled the number of class sessions, provided a path to integrating archival materials into a variety of courses, and established public events, like student-curated exhibits, and special student study sessions at the end of each semester, which draw nearly 100 attendees a night to the library. Faculty and students alike praise her creativity, energy and commitment to making archives a foundation for original research and academic exploration. She is regarded as a campus leader in library instruction, setting a standard for what hands-on engagement with special collections can achieve.
Jackie Lawson Memorial Faculty Governance
The Jackie Lawson Memorial Faculty Governance Award reflects distinction in faculty governance service to the entire university that reaches beyond the local campus confines of Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint. The recipient must have excelled in building a positive relationship between the Ann Arbor campus and one or both regional campuses, as exemplified by Lawson’s career. The recipient is:
Bruce R. Maxim
Narasimhamurthi “Nattu” Natarajan Collegiate Professor of Engineering and professor of computer and information science, College of Engineering and Computer Science, UM-Dearborn
Bruce R. Maxim is a dedicated, engaged educator, administrator and leader who has worked across all three U-M campuses to support and strengthen faculty governance. Over his distinguished 30-plus years at U-M, he has been recognized with every major service award at the Dearborn campus, in addition to several teaching honors. As chair of the UM-Dearborn Faculty Senate for six years, and vice chair for three years, Maxim expertly managed the university’s primary shared governance body, guiding representatives from all colleges in thoughtful deliberations over issues of policy and practice. He facilitated challenging, often pivotal, discussions during his tenure, and he broke new ground as the first leader to convene faculty governance representatives from Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint together on the Dearborn campus. Beyond his Senate leadership, Maxim’s legacy encompasses service on dozens of university committees and task forces as well as transformative contributions to UM-Dearborn’s computing environment, experiential learning programs, student organizations, cooperative education and community engagement. Colleagues widely recognize his active participation in the university’s most significant initiatives.
Distinguished Faculty Governance Award
The Distinguished Faculty Governance Award recognizes people with a history of distinguished service to faculty governance over several years with an emphasis on university-wide service. The recipient is:
Michèle A. Hannoosh
Professor of French, department of romance languages and literatures, LSA; and faculty ombuds, Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President Academic Affairs
Michèle A. Hannoosh is highly regarded not only for her scholarly achievements as an accomplished professor of French, but also for her years of service as a faculty ombudsperson, wherein she has steadfastly championed the values of fairness, respect and ethical conduct across the campus community. She joined U-M’s faculty in 2003; chaired the Romance Languages and Literature Department from 2006-10; served as LSA ombuds from 2015-17; and worked as university faculty ombuds from 2018-25. In this role, Hannoosh helped mediate thorny disputes across campus by listening to those involved, weighing university policy alongside her sense of justice, and hatching creative, mutually beneficial solutions. With both sensitivity and candor, she helped defuse disagreements that might have otherwise escalated to formal action, earning widespread trust across the university community. She has also served on numerous committees, including the Divisional Evaluation Committee for the Humanities in LSA. Though she stepped down as chair of her department over a decade ago, Hannoosh continues to volunteer her leadership, often presiding over the department’s convocation ceremonies and supporting her colleagues and students in countless ways.
