FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As part of its Faculty Award Recognition Program, the University of Arkansas saluted faculty and staff who have received nationally competitive research awards at a reception on April 27 at the Frank Broyles Athletic Center.

The university frequently honors faculty members who receive awards at the institutional, college or departmental level. The award recognition program is the institution’s first coordinated effort to publicly praise those who have received nationally competitive research awards.

“I am reminded again and again that the University of Arkansas is an extraordinary place,” Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, told the group. “We have a gifted academic community and our faculty and staff are a tremendous source of our vitality. I applaud your creativity, your initiative and your discovery.”

Gaber developed the Faculty Award Recognition Program with Jim Rankin, vice provost for research and economic development, and Ro Di Brezzo, vice provost for faculty development and enhancement.

The program initially focuses on the 23 faculty award programs recognized by the Top American Research Universities study conducted by Arizona State University. Examples include the Fulbright American Scholar Program, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation Early Career Development Program, better known as the NSF CAREER award.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development hosted the event, which was attended by the following faculty and staff who have received nationally competitive research awards:

• Steven Bell, associate professor and chair, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures; Fulbright-Hays Dissertation Fellowship
• Kathleen Condray, associate professor, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures; Fulbright American Scholar
• Robert Finlay, professor emeritus, Department of History; Fulbright-Hays Dissertation Fellowship
• Michael Freeman, director, International Students and Scholars; Fulbright American Scholar
• Jeremy Hyman, lecturer, Department of Philosophy; National Endowment for the Humanities
• Lynn Jacobs, professor, Department of Art; National Endowment for the Humanities
• Davis McCombs, associate professor, Department of English; National Endowment for the Arts
• Beth Schweiger, associate professor, Department of History; Mellon Foundation Fellowship, National Endowment for the Humanities, Huntington Library Fellowship, Yale University Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion
• Joshua Smith, assistant professor, Department of English; Mellon Foundation Fellowship
• Tony Stankus, Distinguished Professor and life sciences librarian, University of Arkansas Libraries; Division of Special Libraries Association
• Tricia Starks, associate professor, Department of History; Fulbright-Hays Dissertation Fellowship; National Endowment for the Humanities
• Susanne Striegler, associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program
• Ranil Wickramasinghe, professor, Department of Chemical Engineering; National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program
• Randall Woods, Distinguished Professor, Department of History; American Council of Learned Societies; National Endowment for the Humanities
• Min Zou, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering; National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development has recently updated the list of campus faculty and staff award-winners. Faculty and staff who have received awards but are not on the list are encouraged to contact the office at 479-575-5901.