Henry Russel Lectureship

In 1925, supported by funds from a bequest from Henry Russel (Law, 1875), the Regents established the Henry Russel Lectureship. Considered the University’s highest honor for a senior member of its active faculty, the Henry Russel Lectureship is awarded annually to recognize a faculty member of exceptional achievements in research, scholarship and/or creative endeavors, and an outstanding record of distinguished teaching, mentoring, and service to the university and wider communities.

  • General Information

    Eligibility

    Nominees must be senior faculty with the rank of full professor. They must be active members of the faculty when nominated and at the time of delivering the Russel Lecture, usually in the following academic year. Nominations of outstanding women, minorities and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

    Selection Criteria

    The award recognizes a senior faculty member who has made exceptional contributions to research, scholarship and creative endeavors; who has an outstanding record as an educator in teaching and mentoring, and who has a national and international reputation for excellence that brings distinction to the University of Michigan.

    Number of Awards

    One award in the amount of $10,000.

    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 that includes former recipients of this award and is chaired by the Dean of the Graduate School, reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the President of the University. The award will be publicly announced early in the fall term and the recipient will present the annual 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.

    Nominating Letter

    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 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 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 (such as selection as a Distinguished University Professor) 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.

  • Recipients

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    2026

    David Ginsburg,, Internal Medicine, Genetics, and Pediatrics

    2025

    Ruth Behar, Anthropology

    2024

    Karin M. Muraszko, Neurosurgery

    2023

    Mark E. Newman, Physics and Complex Systems

    2022

    Donald R. Kinder, Political Science

    2021

    Susan A. Gelman, Psychology and Linguistics

    2020

    Stephen R. Forrest, Engineering

    2019

    Max S. Wicha, Oncology

    2018

    Terry Robinson, Psychology

    2017

    Linda Gregerson, English Language and Literature

    2016

    David E. Meyer, Psychology

    2015

    Homer Neal, Physics

    2014

    Fawwaz Ulaby, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    2013

    James S. House, Public Policy and Sociology

    2012

    Rebecca J. Scott, History and Law

    2011

    Richard Janko, Classical Studies

    2010

    Richard Nisbett, Psychology

    2009

    Lennard Fisk, Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences

    2008

    Kent V. Flannery, Anthropology

    2007

    Kensall Wise, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    2006

    Huda Akil, Psychiatry

    2005

    William Fulton, Mathematics

    2004

    Maris Vinovskis, History and Public Policy

    2003

    Rowena G. Matthews, Biological Chemistry and Biophysics

    2002

    Gerard Mourou, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    2000

    Abigail Stewart, Psychology and Women’s Studies

    1999

    Jack E. Dixon, Biological Chemistry

    1998

    David E. Kuhl, Internal Medicine and Radiology

    1997

    William E. Bolcom, Music Composition

    1996

    Ludwig Koenen, Papyrology and Classical Studies

    1995

    Vincent Massey, Biological Chemistry

    1994

    Elizabeth M. Douvan, Psychology and Women’s Studies

    1993

    John H. Holland, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Psychology

    1992

    Robert Axelrod, Political Science and Public Policy

    1991

    Minor J. Coon, Biological Chemistry

    1990

    Frederick W. Gehring, Mathematics

    1989

    Richard D. Alexander, Evolutionary Biology

    1988

    Bernard W. Agranoff, Neurosciences and Biological Chemistry

    1987

    Philip E. Converse, Sociology and Political Science

    1986

    Thomas M. Donahue, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Science

    1985

    Sidney Fine, History

    1984

    Leslie R. Bassett, Music Composition

    1983

    Stefan S. Fajans, Internal Medicine

    1982

    Emmett R. Leith, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    1981

    Leslie Kish, Sociology and Institute for Social Research

    1980

    Halvor N. Christensen, Biological Chemistry

    1979

    Francis A. Allen, Law

    1978

    Arthur W. Burks, Philosophy/Computer and Communication Sciences

    1977

    Charles Gibson, History

    1976

    Lamberto Cesari, Mathematics

    1975

    George Kish, Geography

    1974

    Chia-Shun Yih, Mechanical Engineering

    1973

    George E. Mendenhall, Near Eastern Studies

    1972

    James B. Griffin, Anthropology

    1971

    Paul G. Kauper, Law

    1970

    John Arthos, English Language and Literature

    1969

    Arnold M. Kuethe, Aerospace Engineering

    1968

    Horace R. Crane, Physics

    1967

    Maurice H. Seevers, Pharmacology

    1966

    James V. Neel, Human Genetics

    1965

    Harold E. Wethey, History of Art

    1964

    William Randolph Taylor, Botany

    1963

    Irving A. Leonard, History

    1962

    Herbert C. Youtie, Classical Studies

    1961

    Jerome W. Conn, Medicine

    1960

    Frederick F. Blicke, Chemistry

    1959

    Raymond L. Wilder, Mathematics

    1958

    Verner W. Crane, History

    1957

    Louis I. Bredvold, English Language and Literature

    1956

    George E. Uhlenbeck, Physics

    1955

    George Granger Brown, Chemical Engineering

    1954

    Thomas Francis, Jr., Epidemiology

    1953

    Robert Gesell, Physiology

    1952

    David M. Dennison, Physics

    1951

    Aaron Franklin Shull, Zoology

    1950

    Arthur Edward R. Boak, History

    1949

    Howard Bishop Lewis, Biological Chemistry

    1948

    Hobart Hurd Willard, Chemistry

    1947

    DeWitt Henry Parker, Philosophy

    1946

    Elizabeth C. Crosby, Anatomy

    1945

    Edward Henry Kraus, Mineralogy

    1944

    John Alexander, Surgery

    1943

    Isaiah Leo Sharfman, Economics

    1942

    William H. Worrell, Near Eastern Studies

    1941

    Harrison M. Randall, Physics

    1940

    Frank Norman Wilson, Medicine

    1939

    Campbell Bonner, Greek

    1938

    Heber Doust Curtis, Astronomy

    1937

    Charles Wallace Edmunds, Materia Medica

    1936

    John Garrett Winter, Latin

    1935

    Gotthelf Carl Huber, Anatomy

    1934

    Ermine Cowles Case, Geology

    1933

    Walter B. Pillsbury, Psychology

    1932

    Jesse Siddall Reeves, Political Science

    1931

    William Herbert Hobbs, Geology

    1930

    Claude H. Van Tyne, History

    1929

    Alfred Scott Warthin, Pathology

    1928

    Henry Arthur Sanders, Latin

    1927

    Frederick George Novy, Bacteriology

    1926

    Moses Gomberg, Chemistry

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]