Home » Faculty and Staff » Awards » Distinguished University Professorships

In 1947 the Regents established the Distinguished University Professorships, the University’s most prestigious professorships, to recognize senior faculty with exceptional scholarly and/or creative achievements, national and international reputations for academic excellence, and superior records of teaching, mentoring, and service. Faculty selected for this recognition, in consultation with the dean of the school or college in which he or she holds an appointment, name the Professorship after a person of distinction in his or her general field of interest, preferably a person formerly associated with the University. The duration of the appointment is unlimited and the title may be retained after retirement. Newly appointed Distinguished University Professors deliver an inaugural lecture during the first year of appointment.

• General Information
• Guidelines for Preparing Nominations
• Past Recipients of Distinguished University Professorships

General Information

Eligibility

Nominees must have the rank of full professor. Nominations of outstanding women, minorities and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

Selection Criteria

Nominees must be recognized nationally and internationally for scholarly achievement in their field of study and/or creative endeavors, for having broad scholarly interests and originality as scholars, for superior teaching skills and for excellence as a mentor to graduate students and junior colleagues

Number of Awards

The number of Distinguished University Professorships awarded varies each year. Each professorship carries an annual salary supplement of $5,000 and an annual research stipend of $5,000.

Source of Nominations

Nominations may be submitted by deans, directors, department/program heads, promotion or award committees, or individual faculty members. The dean of the nominee’s school/college must provide a letter of support if the nomination is submitted by someone other than the dean.

Selection Process

A committee of distinguished senior faculty from different disciplines and academic units, chaired by the Dean of the Graduate School, reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the Provost. Upon the recommendation of the Provost, the Board of Regents approves these appointments in May. Awards will be formally presented at a ceremony during the fall term.

Deadline

The nomination deadline is 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 9, 2020.

For more information contact:

Honors and Awards
Rackham Graduate School
Telephone: (734) 615-0255
Email: honorsandawards@umich.edu

Guidelines for Preparing Nominations

As described below, a nomination dossier must include a cover sheet with contact information, a nominating letter, and curriculum vitae. Incomplete nomination dossiers cannot be reviewed. The Graduate School will add to each nomination dossier a dissertation committee service report and the Registrar’s Teaching Evaluation “Instructor Report” that tabulates quantitative data only.

The online nomination dossier may be set up by a U-M faculty or staff member. Others may be given login access to the site as needed. The nomination system may be accessed as often as needed in order to complete the nomination dossier. All materials must be uploaded in Adobe PDF format.

Cover Sheet

Complete the online cover sheet with all information requested for both the nominee and the nominator—not the administrator who may have initiated the dossier.

Letter of Nomination

As committee members represent a range of disciplines and may not be familiar with the nominee’s field, describe the nominee’s contributions in a way that conveys their significance to those not acquainted with the field. Given the number of highly accomplished senior faculty with national reputations for academic excellence, the letter should explain the particular distinction that makes the nominee exceptionally qualified for this honor. The letter should include an explanation of the most significant external awards to help the committee assess the nominee’s stature in the field. The letter may incorporate quotations from former and current students, peers and faculty, including from letters solicited for tenure review, that describe the significance of the nominee’s scholarly and research achievements, teaching and mentoring excellence, service contributions and other impact measures outside the classroom.

The letter may be no longer than 2,000 words. A new letter may be submitted for re-nominations or an addendum may be submitted to update the dossier.

Letters should cover the areas below; those that do not will disadvantage the nominee:

• An assessment of the range and overall importance of the nominee’s research, scholarly or creative endeavors and accomplishments so that readers can understand the scope and value of his/her professional work. The committee is especially interested in evidence of contributions that have transformed a discipline or field of study or launched a new field of study.
• Evidence of substantial recognition nationally and internationally among peers and scholars for the impact of the research or scholarship, including an explanation of the most significant external awards to help the committee assess the nominee’s stature in the field. This should include prior recognition within the University and by professional associations, national academies, or other groups with knowledge of the nominee’s contributions. The committee is especially interested in recognition that extends beyond a nominee’s immediate field of expertise.
• Evidence of outstanding contributions as an educator. This should include having education as a high priority during the nominee’s career; engagement in curriculum development and improvement; recognition as an accomplished teacher; and engagement with graduate students and junior colleagues to further their scholarship and careers.
• Evidence of extraordinary service and collegiality within the University community and engagement with professional associations, societies, or other national institutions. This may include successful service in formal or informal administrative or leadership roles.
• Attention to activities indicative of the nominee’s breadth of interest and engagement (e.g., interdisciplinary efforts or involvement with public, nonprofit, or entrepreneurial activity) and depth of knowledge in related fields.

Curriculum Vitae

Provide the nominee’s current c.v.

Dean’s Support Form

If the nomination is submitted by someone other than the dean of the nominee’s school or college, a letter of support from the dean must be provided. Please complete this Dean’s Support Form, obtain signatures, and upload as a PDF in these situations. This form is also provided within the nomination system.

Past Recipients of Distinguished University Professorships

2018

• Deborah Goldberg, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Laura Kasischke, English Language and Literature
• Steven Kunkel, Pathology
• Jeffrey Lagarias, Mathematics
• Victor Li, Civil and Environmental Engineering

2017

• Gordon Amidon, Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Charles L. Brooks III, Chemistry and Biophysics
• John Carethers, Internal Medicine and Human Genetics
• Mark Hunter, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Resources and Environment
• Martin Katz, Music
• Sidonie Smith, English Language and Literature and Women’s Studies
• Ralph Yang, Chemical Engineering

2016

• Kent Berridge, Psychology and Neuroscience
• Sally Camper, Human Genetics and Internal Medicine
• Robert Griess Jr., Mathematics
• Sharon Herbert, Classical Archaeology
• Alfred Hero III, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Wallace Hopp, Business and Engineering
• Melanie Sanford, Chemistry
• June Manning Thomas, Urban Planning
• Valerie Traub, English and Women’s Studies

2015

• Joel D. Blum, Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Stephen R. Forrest, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Sharon C. Glotzer, Chemical Engineering
• Tiya A. Miles, African American Women’s History
• Mark E. Newman, Physics
• Gilbert S. Omenn, Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
• Peter J. Polverini, Dentistry
• Ronald G. Suny, History
• Sarah G. Thomason, Linguistics

2014

• Tamas Gombosi, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences
• Jessy Grizzle, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Robert Kennedy, Chemistry
• Donald Kinder, Political Science
• Harry Mobley, Microbiology & Immunology
• Susan Murphy, Statistics
• Peter Railton, Philosophy
• Peter Sparling, Music, Theatre & Dance

2013

• Elizabeth S. Anderson, Philosophy
• Christin Carter-Su, Physiology
• Carol A. Fierke, Chemistry
• Susan A. Gelman, Psychology and Linquistics
• Ronald G. Larson, Chemical Engineering
• Victor B. Lieberman, History
• Roderick J. Little, Biostatistics
• Mark B. Orringer, Thoracic Surgery
• Panos Y. Papalambros, Engineering

2011

• Richard Janko, Classical Studies
• Gordon Kane, Physics
• Miriam Meisler, Human Genetics, Neurology
• Terry Robinson, Psychology, Neuroscience

2010

• David Halperin, English Language and Literature
• Yoram Koren, Mechanical Engineering
• David Meyer, Psychology
• Fawwaz Ulaby, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

2009

• Jacquelynne S. Eccles, Psychology and Education
• Rodney C. Ewing, Geological Sciences
• William C. Fulton, Mathematics
• A. Galip Ulsoy, Mechanical Engineering
• John H. Vandermeer, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

2008

• Hyman Bass, Education and Mathematics
• Michael Boehnke, Biostatistics
• Bruce Frier, Classical Studies, Law School
• Linda Gregerson, English Language & Literature
• James S. House, Sociology

2007

• Stephen Darwall, Philosophy
• Jane Dutton, Business Education
• Joyce Penner, Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences
• Henry Wright, Anthropology
• Yu Xie, Sociology and Statistics

2006

• Noreen Clark, Public Health
• Nicholas Delbanco, English Language & Literature
• Geoffrey Eley, History
• Lennard Fisk, Atmospheric Oceanic and Space Sciences
• Raoul Kopelman, Chemistry

2005

• Philip Bucksbaum, Physics
• Sheldon Danziger, Public Policy
• Sidney Gilman, Neurology
• Donald S. Lopez, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies
• Joyce Marcus, Anthropology
• C.K. Prahalad, Business Administration
• Abigail Stewart, Psychology and Women’s Studies