Photo gallery: 2025 Faculty Excellence Week includes kickoff, awards recognition // Show Me 黑料专区 // University of Missouri

May 5, 2025
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
Photos by Sophia Scheller and Sam Cox

Through teaching, research and service, faculty at the University of Missouri continue to thrive in their respective fields. Recently, their significant contributions in the classroom, lab, community and beyond were recognized as part of Faculty Excellence Week.

A included food trucks, camaraderie, a performance by Marching 黑料专区 and various photo opportunities with the nation's best mascot, Truman the Tiger. Faculty authors were recognized at a special event. At the end of the week, University of Missouri President Mun Choi, Provost Matthew Martens and Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves joined others to celebrate faculty successes throughout the year.

Overview of area where faculty are gathering

Curators' Distinguished Professors

The following faculty were named Curators' Distinguished Professors in 2024.

Curators' Distinguished Professor Prasad Calyam, College of Engineering, with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.
Curators' Distinguished Professor Xiaoqin Zou, College of Arts and Science, with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.
Curators' Distinguished Professor Roman Ganta, College of Veterinary Medicine, with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.
Curators' Distinguished Professor Mengshi Lin, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.
Curators' Distinguished Professor Shelly Rodgers, Missouri School of Journalism with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.
Curators' Distinguished Professor Bing Yang, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.
Curators' Distinguished Professor Xiaoqin Zou, College of Arts and Science, with President Mun Choi, UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves and Provost Matthew Martens.

Not pictured: Curators' Distinguished Professor Loukas Grafakos and Curators' Distinguished Professor Haval Shirwan.

External awards

The following faculty received external awards categorized as either highly prestigious or prestigious.

Utku Asuroglu received the Guggenheim Fellowship.
Signe Cohen was named a National Humanities Center Fellow.
Sean Franzel received the Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for Studies in Germanic Languages and Literatures.
Jianlin Cheng was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2023.
Ron Mittler was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2023.
Rahiv R. Mohan was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2023.
Christopher K. Wikle was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2023.
Donald Burke-Ag眉ero was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2024.
Felix Fritschi was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2024.
Scott H. Holan was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2024.
Richard J. Sherwood was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2024.
Bing Yang was named an American Phytopathological Society Fellow.
Kate Nelson received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
Alyssa Carlson received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
Kiruba Krishnaswamy received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
Brandi MacDonald received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
Tuan Nguyen received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
Christina Carney was named a 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar.
Lael Keiser received the John Gaus Award from the American Political Science Association.
Walter Gassmann received the Noel T. Keen Award for Research in Molecular Plant Pathology from the American Phytopathological Society.

Not pictured: Tim Trull, American Association for Advancement of Science Fellow in 2024.

黑料专区 campus awards

The following faculty received awards at 黑料专区.

David Mendoza-C贸zatl received the Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Outstanding Research & Creative Activity in Biological Sciences.
Megan Arns received the Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Outstanding Research & Creative Activity in Performing Arts & Humanities.
Hank Stelzer received the Donald W. Fancher Provost Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension & Continuing Education.
Martha Steffens received the Governor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Amanda Durbak received the Kathleen & Robert Unrath Excellence in Visionary Teaching. She is pictured with the Unraths.
Mandy Bish received the Provost鈥檚 Award for Creative Extension Programming by New Faculty.
Rajiv R. Mohan received the Provost鈥檚 Award for Leadership in International Education.
Botswana Blackburn received the Provost鈥檚 Award for University Citizenship in Leadership.
Paula McSteen received the Provost鈥檚 Award for University Citizenship in Mentoring.
Anne Stanton received the Provost鈥檚 Award for University Citizenship in Service.
Kimberly Powell and Kate Trout received the Provost鈥檚 Outstanding Junior Faculty Research & Creative Activity Award.
Nick Potter, Kathryn Lucchesi and Matteo Binfar猫 received the Provost鈥檚 Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award.
Dawn Cornelison received the William H. Byler Distinguished Professor Award.
William T. Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching recipients. From left: Pamela Brown, Julie Passanante Elman, Tamara S. Hancock, Dennis K. Miller and Amy Simons.