FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Seven University of Arkansas faculty received outstanding distinctions in 2020 as new distinguished professors, university professors and endowed position appointees.

Outstanding University of Arkansas faculty are typically honored at a special event each academic year hosted by the chancellor and provost. The celebration — a time to connect, highlight distinguished faculty and express gratitude to the benefactors who have generously supported them — was canceled in the fall because of the pandemic.

“Due to the current limits on gatherings and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Outstanding Faculty Dinner was not held in the fall,” said Mark Power, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Still, we felt it was important to recognize these individuals and celebrate their excellence with the campus community as a whole. They, along with the generous benefactors who make our endowed positions possible, are leading the way toward building a better world.”

Charles Robinson, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said, “On behalf of the entire campus, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the faculty members who have been named Distinguished Professors, University Professors and newly appointed endowed position holders. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication you bring to teaching, research and service at the U of A.

“And for our benefactors who make our endowed positions possible, thank you. We look forward to the time when we can gather together again and celebrate what you have made possible through philanthropy.” 

The following honorees would have been recognized this academic year.

GEOFFREY A. BROCK

Geoffrey Brock has been named a Distinguished Professor in the Department of English in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Florida, a doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Pennsylvania and has been with the University of Arkansas since 2005.

KRISTOFOR R. BRYE

Kristofor Brye has been named a University Professor in applied soil physics and pedology in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. He holds a Bachelor of Science in soil science from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and a Master of Science in soil science (soil physics) and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His Ph.D. minor was environmental law. Brye has been with the University of Arkansas since 2001.

MICHAEL DAUGHERTY

Michael Daugherty has been named a Distingushed Professor in the department of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial education, a Master of Science in technology education and an educational doctorate in occupational and adult education, all from Oklahoma State University. He joined the U of A in 2005.

JENNIFER GREENHILL

Jennifer Greenhill is the Art History Endowed Faculty Chair for the School of Art and inaugural director of graduate studies and museum partnerships with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Los Angeles, a Master of Arts from Williams College’s graduate program in the history of art, and a doctorate from Yale University. She joined the University of Arkansas in 2020.

KEVIN HALL

Kevin Hall has been named University Professor in the department of civil engineering and is the holder of the Walter E. Hicks and Blossom Russell Hicks Professorship for Infrastructure Engineering. He is the associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and the interim director of the High Density Electronics Center. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in civil engineering from the U of A and earned his doctorate from the University of Illinois. Hall has been with the U of A since 1993.

MANUEL D. ROSSETTI

Manuel D. Rossetti has been named a University Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is the former director of the Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution and the Data Science Program, which includes the College of Engineering, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and Fulbright College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science and doctorate in industrial and systems engineering from The Ohio State University. Rossetti joined the University of Arkansas in 1999.

RANIL WICKRAMASINGHE

Ranil Wickramasinghe has been named a Distinguished Professor and is the holder of the Ross E. Martin Endowed Chair in Emerging Technologies in the College of Engineering. He leads the Membrane, Science, Engineering and Technology Center and joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at the U of A in 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Melbourne in Australia and a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.