March 17, 2026
Contact: Eric Stann, stanne@missouri.edu
University of Missouri President Mun Choi; Matthew Martens, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs; Steve Sowers, chief executive officer of Commerce Bank’s Missouri community markets; and Sarah Dubbert, president of the Columbia market for Commerce Bank, awarded a 2026 William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence to Karthik Panchanathan today. Panchanathan is an associate professor of anthropology in the College of Arts and Science.
Cooper Drury, dean of the College of Arts and Science, joined other leaders in surprising Panchanathan by honoring him with the fellowship, which includes a $15,000 stipend. Kemper Fellowships are awarded to five outstanding teachers at the University of Missouri each year.
The William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence were established in 1991 with a $500,000 gift. Kemper, a 1926 Mizzou graduate, was a well-known civic leader in Kansas City until his death in 1989. His 52-year career in banking included top positions at banks in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Commerce Bank manages the trust fund.
Karthik Panchanathan biography
To inspire his anthropology students, Karthik Panchanathan encourages them to practice citizenship skills by exploring new perspectives and approach learning as an exciting adventure.
Often described as thoughtful and engaging, Panchanathan’s genuine interest in student well-being consistently shines.
“It would not be hyperbole to say that Dr. Panchanathan’s tutelage, guidance and support have been life-changing,” Olivia Gyapong, a former student, wrote in a letter supporting the nomination. “His willingness to make himself available for hours-long discussions about anthropology and life in general, propensity to go above and beyond to help students achieve their career goals, and dedication to molding students who think critically about the world around them are what make him an invaluable asset to Mizzou.”
In the classroom, Panchanathan emphasizes that everyone has a valuable story to share. His ability to challenge assumptions with evidence-based insights and anthropological data makes his lectures intellectually stimulating and engaging.
“Students were never passive recipients of information; rather, they were active participants
guided by Dr. Panchanathan’s enthusiasm, humor and clarity,” Soren Larsen, a professor of geography, wrote in a letter supporting the nomination after observing one of Panchanathan’s lectures. “He demonstrates clear learning objectives, effective use of examples and signposting, skillful storytelling and a rare ability to inspire curiosity and critical thought.”
Panchanathan’s impactful mentorship has helped many of his students launch their careers.
“Several of his students have won the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards,” Todd VanPool, chair of the Department of Anthropology, wrote in the nomination letter. “Two of his former undergraduates won Fulbright Fellowships. In the capstone seminar, his students write proposals that bring together what they learned as anthropology majors and their career goals.”
Never complacent, Panchanathan’s constant desire to improve as an educator is noticed by his students and colleagues.
“Karthik succeeds by taking his teaching seriously,” Theodore Koditschek, a professor emeritus in the Department of History, wrote in a letter supporting the nomination. “He is always self-assessing after every class session, inviting student feedback and thinking about which approaches worked best.”
Already a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Center for Public Anthropology’s Franz Boas Global Citizenship Award, Mizzou’s Maxine Christopher Schutz Award for Distinguished Teaching and Mizzou’s Win Horner Award for Innovative Writing Intensive Teaching, Panchanathan earning the Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence further recognizes the exceptional learning atmosphere he creates for his students.
“Rather than simple presentations, his classes are broken up into debates, class votes,
video clips, and short games and quizzes that make sense of the subject matter and get the
students thinking about bigger problems and cultural issues,” Justin Burkett, a graduate student and teaching assistant for Panchanathan, wrote in a letter of support for the nomination. “I’m most thankful that Dr. Panchanathan cares as much as he does. Adjusting to life as a graduate student hundreds of miles from home was difficult, and he understood that. He wanted to hear my concerns and support me not just as a graduate student or colleague, but as a friend.”
In addition to his teaching duties, Panchanathan serves as the director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Anthropology, chair of Mizzou’s Campus Writing Board and vice president of Mizzou’s Phi Beta Kappa committee. He is the faculty liaison for the Anthropology Student Association and co-director for the Evolution and Social Science Group.
Panchanathan earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and cultural anthropology, a master’s degree in biological anthropology and a doctoral degree in anthropology — all from the University of California, Los Angeles.
