Henry Russel Award

In 1925, supported by funds from a bequest from Henry Russel (Law, 1875), the Regents established the Henry Russel Award. Considered the University’s highest honor for faculty at the early to mid-career stages of their career, the Henry Russel Award is conferred annually to faculty members who have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishment in scholarly research and/or creativity, as well as an excellent record of contributions as a teacher.

  • General Information

    Eligibility

    Eligible nominees must meet at least one of the following two criteria:

    • Be tenure-track instructional faculty at the University of Michigan for no more than six years at the time of nomination, with the rank of assistant professor or associate professor.
    • Be tenure-track instructional faculty at the University of Michigan with the rank of assistant professor at the time of nomination.

    Nominations of outstanding women, minorities and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

    Selection Criteria

    This award recognizes faculty early in their academic careers who already have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishment in scholarship, research, and creativity and have also demonstrated excellence as a teacher.

    Number of Awards

    Four Awards in the amount of $5,000.

    Source of Nominations

    Nominations may be submitted by deans, directors, department/program heads, promotion or award committees, or individual faculty members.

    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 President of the University. Awards are publicly announced early in the fall term and formally presented on the occasion of the Henry Russel Lecture in the winter term.

    Deadline

    The nomination deadline is Monday, March 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., EDT.

    For more information contact:

    Honors and Awards
    Telephone: (734) 615-0255
    Email: [email protected]

  • Guidelines for Preparing Nominations

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    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 mid-career faculty, the letter should explain the particular distinction that makes the nominee exceptionally qualified for this honor. 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:

    • A concise description of the nominee’s major research, scholarly and/or creative endeavors and accomplishments, including an explanation of the overall significance of the work and evidence for its impact on the nominee’s field or discipline
    • Evidence of the nominee’s professional achievements and reputation, particularly through recognition by her or his peers, and an explanation of the significance of major external awards
    • An evaluation of the nominee’s contributions, ability, and influence as member of the teaching faculty which might include, for instance, leadership in design of new degrees, programs or curriculum; the quality and impact of the nominee’s teaching and courses; and significant awards recognizing notable accomplishments as an educator
    • Evidence that the nominee serves as an influential and successful advisor to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty, as appropriate to the field and career stage;
    • Evidence that shows the nominee’s impact outside the classroom in significant service or professional contributions, including formal or informal administrative roles in the University or in the discipline or profession, service on editorial boards and in other professional organizations and societies, or outstanding service to communities and institutions beyond the University

    Curriculum Vitae

    Provide the nominee’s current c.v.

  • Recipients

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    2026

    • Solomon Adera, Mechanical Engineering
    • Kevin Geoffrey Field, Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
    • Teresa Rodgers O’Meara, Microbiology and Immunology
    • Paige Sweet, Sociology

    2025

    • Robin Brewer, Information
    • Roya Ensafi, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Marc Hannaford, Music
    • Wenjing Wang, Chemistry

    2024

    • Alison R. Davis Rabosky, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    • Oliver Haimson, Information
    • Justin E. Heinze, Health Behavior and Health Education
    • Elliott J. Rouse, Robotics and Mechanical Engineering

    2023

    • Andrej Lenert, Chemical Engineering
    • Alexandra Rosati, Psychology and Anthropology
    • Kira Thurman, Germanic Languages and Literatures and History
    • Liuyan Zhao, Physics

    2022

    • Shanna Daly, Mechanical Engineering
    • Roshanak Mehdipanah, Health Behavior and Health Education
    • Tiffany K. Ng, Music
    • Lakisha M. Simmons, Women’s and Gender Studies and History

    2021

    • Jose Casas, Theatre
    • Erin A. Cech, Sociology
    • Matthew A. Davis, Nursing
    • Johanna Mathieu, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    2020

    • Carrie Ferrario, Pharmacology
    • Xianzhe Jia, Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
    • Corinna Schindler, Chemistry
    • Megan Tompkins-Stange, Public Policy

    2019

    • Meghan A. Duffy, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    • Matthew Johnson-Roberson, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Timothy McAllister, Music
    • Necmiye Ozay, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    2018

    • Justin Kasper, Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
    • Becky (R.L.) Peterson, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Daniel Rabosky, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    • Paul Zimmerman, Chemistry

    2017

    • Robin Beck, Anthropology
    • Ashley Gearhardt, Psychology
    • Tung-Hui Hu, English
    • Sarah Veatch, Physics and Biophysics

    2016

    • Julia Adler-Milstein, Information
    • Jeremy N. Bassis, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences
    • Clare H. Croft, Dance
    • Christopher R. Friese, Nursing

    2015

    • Henriette Elvang, Physics
    • Kristin Kuster, Music, Theatre, and Dance
    • SangHyun Lee, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    • Brian Zikmund-Fisher, Health Behavior Health Education

    2014

    • Dragan Huterer, Physics
    • Scott R. Lyons, American Culture and English Language and Literature
    • Thomas F. Wenisch, Computer Science and Engineering

    2013

    • Allison Steiner, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences
    • Angela Violi, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science

    2012

    • Lada Adamic, School of Information, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Aaron Pierce, Physics
    • Haoxing Xu, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

    2011

    • Anthony Grbic, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • David Harding, Sociology
    • Anna Michalak, Civil and Environmental Engineering

    2010

    • Cindy Lustig, Psychology
    • Patricia Wittkopp, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

    2009

    • Luming Duan, Physics
    • Anna Grzymala-Busse, Political Science
    • Laura Kasischke, English Language and Literature

    2008

    • Edwin Bergin, Astronomy
    • Jason Owen-Smith, Sociology, Organizational Studies

    2007

    • Anne Curzan, English Language and Literature, Education
    • Jerome Lynch, Civil and Environmental Engineering

    2006

    • Amy Porter, Wind and Percussion
    • Dennis Sylvester, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    2005

    • David T. Blaauw, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Anna Stefanopoulou, Mechanical Engineering

    2004

    • Todd Austin, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Brian Conrad, Mathematics
    • Lorna Goodison, English Language and Literature

    2003

    • William V. Giannobile, Periodontics and Prevention and Geriatrics
    • Scott J. Hollister, Biomedical Engineering, Surgery and Mechanical Engineering
    • Denise Kirschner, Microbiology and Immunology
    • John V. Moran, Human Genetics
    • Michael J. Solomon, Chemical Engineering

    2002

    • Clark T. C. Nguyen, EECS
    • Yoichi Osawa, Pharmacology
    • Johanna H. Prins, English Language and Literature

    2001

    • Lisa Curran, Biology and Natural Resources

    2000

    • Jeffrey Fessler, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • Webb Keane, Anthropology

    1999

    • Thomas Hales, Mathematics
    • Aalexander Ninfa, Biological Chemistry
    • Ann Marie Sastry, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

    1998

    • Susan Alcock, Classical Art and Archaeology and Classical Studies
    • Trevor Wooley, Mathematics

    1997

    • Carla Sinopoli, Anthropology
    • Kamal Sarabandi, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    1996

    • Celeste A. Brusati, History of Art
    • Dante A. Amidei, Physics

    1995

    • H. Brinkley Messick, Anthropology
    • Khalil Najafi, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    1994

    • Stephen Lee, Chemistry

    1993

    • Jessy W. Grizzle, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • John C. Mitani, Anthropology

    1992

    • James M. Wilson, Internal Medicine

    1991

    • David Srolovitz, Materials Science

    1990

    • Alice Fulton, English Language and Literature
    • Philip Hanlon, Mathematics

    1989

    • Susan Gelman, Psychology

    1988

    • Thomas P. Beresford, Psychiatry
    • Thomas E. Crow, History of Art

    1987

    • Nancy Cantor, Psychology
    • Jennifer A. Kitchell, Geological Sciences
    • Barbara Boardman Smuts, Psychology

    1986

    • Richard I. Arculus, Geological Sciences

    1985

    • Noburu Kikuchi, Mechanical Engineering
    • Donald Kinder, Political Science

    1984

    • Daniel C. Fisher, Geological Sciences

    1983

    • Peter A. Railton, Philosophy
    • Richard W. Wrangham, Anthropology

    1982

    • Daniel M. Burns, Jr., Mathematics
    • John T. Lehman, Biology

    1981

    • Gayl A. Jones, English Language and Literature

    1980

    • Philip D. Gingerich, Geological Sciences
    • Robert P. Kirshner, Physics

    1979

    • Joyce P. Marcus, Anthropology

    1978

    • Charles F. Yocum, Biology

    1977

    • William E. Bolcom, Music

    1976

    • Rob Van der Voo, Geological Sciences

    1975

    • Hugh L. Montgomery, Mathematics

    1974

    • Bernard Q. Nietschmann, Geography

    1973

    • John J. Voorhees, Dermatology

    1972

    • Kent V. Flannery, Anthropology

    1971

    • Lewis J. Kleinsmith, Biology

    1970

    • Jeremiah G. Turcotte, Surgery

    1969

    • William W. Freehling, History

    1968

    • Arthur J. Vander, Physiology

    1967

    • Theodore V. Buttrey, Classical Studies

    1966

    • William P. Malm, Music

    1965

    • Anthony J. Pennington, Electrical Engineering

    1964

    • John M. DeNoyer, Geology

    1963

    • George D. Zuidema, Surgery

    1962

    • John R. G. Gosling, Obstetrics and Gynecology

    1961

    • Lawrence B. Slobodkin, Zoology

    1960

    • William L. Hays, Psychology

    1959

    • William R. Dawson, Biology

    1958

    • Oleg Grabar, History of Art

    1957

    • Elman R. Service, Anthropology

    1956

    • Donald R. Pearce, English Language and Literature

    1955

    • Donald Arthur Glaser, Physics

    1954

    • John W. Hall, History

    1953

    • Edwin E. Moise, Mathematics

    1952

    • Henry J. Gomberg, Electrical Engineering

    1951

    • Ernst Pulgram, Romance Languages

    1950

    • Chris J. D. Zarafonetis, Internal Medicine

    1949

    • Richard C. Boys, English Language and Literature

    1948

    • Robert M. Thrall, Mathematics

    1947

    • Burton L. Baker, Anatomy

    1946

    • Robert R. White, Chemical Engineering

    1945

    • William B. Willcox, History

    1944

    • Frederick K. Sparrow, Jr., Botany

    1943

    • Carl A. Moyer, Surgery

    1942

    • Richard H. Freyberg, Internal Medicine

    1941

    • Herbert C. Youtie, Classical Studies

    1940

    • Edgard M. Hoover, Jr., Economics
    • Frank H. Bethell, Internal Medicine

    1939

    • Norman R. F. Maier, Psychology

    1938

    • Franklin D. Johnston, Internal Medicine

    1937

    • Frank E. Eggleton, Zoology

    1936

    • Lawrence Preuss, Political Science

    1935

    • Ralph Grafton Smith, Public Health

    1934

    • Paul Mueschke, English Language and Literature

    1933

    • Werner E. Bachmann, Chemistry

    1932

    • William L. Ayres, Mathematics

    1931

    • Earl L. Griggs, English Langauge and Literature

    1930

    • Carl L. Hubbs, Zoology

    1929

    • John Alexander, Surgery

    1928

    • Laurence M. Gould, Geology

    1927

    • Albert Hyma, History

    1926

    • Carter L. Goodrich, Economics

Contact Us

Hours: The Dean’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed Saturdays and Sundays and on university holidays.

  • Location
    1120 Rackham Building
    915 E. Washington St.
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070

  • Contact
    Phone: 734.615.0255
    Fax: 734.615.3832
    Email: [email protected]