Photo gallery: 2025 Faculty Excellence Week includes kickoff, awards recognition // Show Me Mizzou // 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 kickoff celebration included food trucks, camaraderie, a performance by Marching Mizzou 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-Agüero 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.
Tuan Nguyen received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
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.

Mizzou campus awards

The following faculty received awards at Mizzou.

David Mendoza-Cózatl received the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research & Creative Activity in Biological Sciences.
Megan Arns received the Chancellor’s 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’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Amanda Durback received the Kathleen & Robert Unrath Excellence in Visionary Teaching.
Katina Bitsicas received the Maxine Christopher Shutz Award & Lecture for Distinguished Teaching.
Mandy Bish received the Provost’s Award for Creative Extension Programming by New Faculty.
Rajiv R. Mohan received the Provost’s Award for Leadership in International Education.
Botswana Blackburn received the Provost’s Award for University Citizenship in Leadership.
Paula McSteen received the Provost’s Award for University Citizenship in Mentoring.
Anne Stanton received the Provost’s Award for University Citizenship in Service.
Kimberly Powell and Kate Trout received the Provost’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Research & Creative Activity Award.
Nick Potter, Kathryn Lucchesi and Matteo Binfarè received the Provost’s 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.